Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor (March 2, 1958 – August 15, 2022) was an American visual artist who worked in a surrealistic style. He lived and collaborated with his wife, Iva, in the small town of Veguita, New Mexico. The documentary film, Painting Grey, was made about his work and life.

Early life and education O'Connor was born on March 2, 1958, to Mikey and John O'Connor, In 1983 he received a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree from the University of New Mexico.

Career O'Connor's paintings have been described as socio-political narratives. His work renders figurative subjects within enigmatic situations. O'Connor has described his work as "the beautiful mess" of "grappling with the world" and attempting to make sense of it. He has exhibited his work nationally in museums and galleries including the Albuquerque Museum, the Harwood Museum, the New Mexico Museum of Fine Arts, the San Antonio Museum of Art, the Riverside Museum of Art among other venues.

Honors and awards From 1985 through 1987, O'Connor received several grants from the New Mexico Artist in Residence Program to work in various sites. His work, Flagship (2012) was commissioned by the city of Albuquerque Public Art Fund, and is on permanent exhibition at the Albuquerque City/County Government Building. His painting, 93 Million Miles, was held in the Bernalillo County public art collection from which it was stolen and never recovered.

Documentary film In 2020, a documentary film, Painting Grey, by Ann Bromberg, was made about O'Connor's work, and how posterior cortical atrophy, a progressive brain disorder, has affected his artistic practice and daily life. He died on August 15, 2022, at the age of 64.