Bryan McFarlane ist seit 2001 Professor für Malerei und Grafik an der Universität von Massachusetts, Dartmouth und war als Gastkünstler an über 35 Universitäten und Museen in den USA, Europa, Lateinamerika und der Karibik.

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McFarlane erhielt zahlreiche Preise, u.a. 2004 von der Joan Mitchell Foundation, 1991 von der Louis Comfort and Tiffany Foundation und 1977 Purchase Award der National Gallery of Jamaica. 1987 beuaftragte ihn die Miller Brewing Company / Phillip Morris mit der Anfertigung von 12 Portraits führender afrikanisch-amerikanischer Journalisten, die im Gallery of Greats Kalendar veröffentlicht wurden.

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McFarlanes Arbeiten sind in zahlreichen nationalen und internationalen Sammlungen vertreten, so in der Federal Reserve Bank in Boston, im Museum of the National Center of African-American Artists, im DeSable Museum in Chicago, in der National Gallery of Jamaica in Kingston und der Bank of Jamaica.

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Obwohl McFarlane in den USA lebt und arbeitet, bilden seine jaimaikanische Erziehung und Umgebung die Grundlage für seine Kreativität. Ebenso beinflussen ihn die intensiven Erfahrungen und Impressionen seiner Reisen durch die Türkei, Westafrika, Südamerika, die Karibik und nicht zuletzt China.

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Zu seinen neuesten Werke erklärt er:
"China has recently become a very special part of my journey. I believe this time, it is one which will unquestionably define a most important period of my life’s work as an artist/painter. Having initially set up studio residency at the Red Gate Gallery for over two months during the summer of 2007. This activity allowed me the incentive I needed to move ahead on this path on solid grounds. From this juncture, I took the opportunity to create a series of work entitled : “Bicyclical Journeys”  in Beijing which grew out of my current “egg series”. In a special way, this experience feels like a familiar one, having grown up with numerous friends during my formative years in Jamaica with large numbers of close extended family members who were Chinese. (Jamaica has a large population of third generation Chinese immigrants who are well established since the turn of the 19th century, of which group has firmly assimilated, contributing to important economic, political  and socio-cultural life of Jamaica and the Caribbean.)   I have gone ahead through this vision and inspiration to set up studios to work there for the duration, as it’s environment helps to shape a concept that might lead to the creation of new and more fresh and unique work . A launching board for my current work to engage in the greater part of East Asia and the expanded contemporary art scene which China is now a major player as it  levels the playing field."