Anomaly

Anomaly is a 2026 abstract expressionist painting by Shawn McNulty, measuring 36 x 36 inches and painted on 1.5-inch-deep stretched canvas. Built from thick layers of acrylic paint and pumice, the heavily textured surface gives the work a raw, tactile quality that changes as light moves across it.

The composition contrasts a predominantly deep blue lower section with a lighter, almost atmospheric upper field. Scraped and layered passages of red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, black, and white interrupt the larger areas of color, creating a constantly shifting network of shapes and marks. The result is energetic without relying on a single dominant gesture.

The title Anomaly reflects the unexpected nature of the forms and the way they seem to appear, disappear, and collide across the surface. Thick pumice creates raised areas and physical texture, while scraping and layering reveal traces of earlier colors beneath the surface. Much of the painting’s character comes from this push and pull between building up and breaking down the image.

At 36 x 36 inches, the square format gives Anomaly a strong presence while allowing the composition to remain open and exploratory. The 1.5-inch-deep canvas also gives the painting substantial physical depth, making it work equally well as a colorful focal point in a contemporary home, office, or collection of original abstract art.

Anomaly is an original abstract painting from 2026 by Shawn McNulty, combining acrylic, pumice, texture, scraping, and layered color in a distinctly contemporary abstract expressionist work.