'393 Ocean Walk' or 'Superman' by John MacConnell

CURATOR'S NOTE

At 393 Ocean Walk, nicknamed the “Superman House,” a life-size statue of the caped hero has greeted passersby since the late 1980s. John MacConnell renders the figure not as kitsch alone but as a talisman: camp and courage, humor and guardianship, the everyday theater of the boardwalk. It’s a Fire Island staple, painted with tenderness.

WHY THIS WORK

Pop icon meets place memory—graphic at a distance, intimate in the brushwork up close.
A perfect conversation piece that captures the Pines’ blend of wit, queerness, and quiet devotion to its houses and rituals.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

John MacConnell works where portraiture meets place. For our exhibition IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK: Portraits of Homes in the Pines, he rendered houses as living subjects while capturing structure, and the atmospheres and memories they hold.

DETAILS

Artist: John MacConnell
Title: 393 Ocean Walk
Year: 2025
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 16 x 20 in.
Signature: Signed/Dated
Framing: Float-mounted in Black (included)
Provenance: The Visitors Center; directly from the artist.

STATUS

Available. To view in person or discuss acquisition, please inquire.