Artist Bio
Who I Am
I have a broad practice in painting abstracts, portraits, landscapes and more. I work out of my studio in St. Paul, Minnesota; I'm drawn to old houses, faces, and their untold stories. Many of my paintings are highly textured as I utilize acrylics, silicone, pumices and gels, recycled junk, as well as sand, clay and gravel from the land. Oil pastels, oil sticks, and house paints are also used.
I also paint with whiskey. My family history is impacted by whiskey, specifically a cheap bar whiskey, Kessler's; watching the video about my father will explain. Mine is an Irish family with the usual tropes of love, booze, laughs, and sadness. The whiskey paintings are based on old family photographs.
I am a first-generation Irishman, my mom's family came to America from County Clare. My father’s family lived in or around County Sligo before immigrating to Scotland, then to America in 1920.
I am a veteran, a former Vietnam-era Marine. I have done my share of drugs and drinking. I have been a derelict and I have worked in boatyards. I have built grottos and fences out of fieldstone. I circumvented Rapa Nui (Easter Island) on horseback partaking in healing ceremonies for the Earth. I taught in the elementary classroom for a couple decades, which is the hardest and most rewarding work I ever did. I have written and drawn an award-winning zine, called True Story!
RESUME
Education
M.A. Holistic Education, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan
B.S. Existential Literature, Written Communications, Eastern Michigan University
Shows/Exhibitions/Awards
2021 Robbin Gallery, Robbinsdale, MN. Extremely Minnesota Exhibit.
2020 Art submission accepted to "Foot in the Door 5: The Virtual Exhibition" at the Minneapolis Institute of Art
2020 "Mid-Century Modern" is accepted by Artforce for display at e Minneapolis Convention Center
2019 Video Interview Concerning Whiskey and Art: Taylor Street Sessions (Minneapolis, MN). Interview starts at 2:49.
2019 Twin Spirits Distillery, Minneapolis, MN
2019 Taylor Street Sessions, Spring 2019. Minneapolis, MN. One-person show.
2018 Art to Change the World, Squireel Haus Gallery. Group show.
2018 Twin Spirits Distillery, Minneapolis, MN
2018 Taylor Street Sessions, Spring, 2018. Minneapolis, MN. One-person show.
2017 Artless Bastard, De Pere, WI. Group show.
2017 NEMAA Rejection Show, Northrup King Bldg. Minneapolis, MN
2017 Squidink Gallery. Online show. (squidinkartwork.com/gallery)
2016 NEMAA Fall Fine Arts Show, Minneapolis, MN
2016 Wyoming Creative Arts Show, Wyoming, MN
2015 Flow Art Space, Salon, St. Paul, MN ("No Mortgage"). Group show.
2015 Milaca Arts Center, Two-Person Show, Milaca, MN
2014 Blue Mountain Gallery, Juried Exhibition, New York, New York ("Exhale", Juror: John Dubrow)
2014 Image Art Show, Group Exhibition, Braham, MN
2014 Alexandria Museum of Art (AMOA), 27th Annual September Competition, Alexandria, Louisiana ("Woman with a Cigar", Award: Honorable Mention, Juror: John Michalopoulos)
2014 Flow Art Space, Women Exhibit, St. Paul, MN ("Woman with a Cigar")
2013 Image Art Show, Group Exhibition, Sandstone, Minnesota ("Four Women Looking", Award: Honorable Mention, Jurors: Melissa Metzler and James Grittner)
2013 St. Cloud Fall Art Crawl, St. Cloud, MN
2013 Grand Cafe, One-Person Show, Minneapolis, MN
2013 St. Cloud Spring Art Crawl, St.Cloud, MN
2013 McKnight Foundation Individual Artist Grant
2012 Image Art Show, Olgivie, MN
2005 Utne Magazine Independent Press Awards, Winner, General Excellence: True Story! zine.
