b. 1993, Gulfport, MS
lives and works in Ridgewood, Queens
Contact: blake.obrien@usm.edu
Education:
MFA, Painting – Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 2020
BFA, Drawing & Painting – The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, 2015
Exhibitions:
2024
There is a Velvet World, Georgia’s Studio, Brooklyn, NY
A Secret Theater (exhibited and curated), Greene House Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Friend of a Friend (curated by Tiffany Wong and Montserrat Mayor), pop-up, Brooklyn, NY
2023
Alphabet Soup (curated by E.E. Ikeler), Essex Flowers, New York, NY
Staring into the Sun (Solo Show), Kent Place School Gallery, Summit, NJ
2022
The Patriot, O’Flaherty’s, New York, NY
Spooky Show, Greene House Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
USM Faculty Show, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
2021
Tactile Sublime (online), Dodomu Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2020
Signs of Sometimes, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
2019
Open Call Print Exhibition, Delphian Gallery, London, UK
National Society of Arts & Letters Exhibition, Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center, Bloomington, IN
2018
The Big Tent, Lotus World Music and Arts Festival, Bloomington, IN
BFA/MFA Student Show, Grunwald Gallery of Art, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
National Society of Arts & Letters Exhibition, Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center, Bloomington, IN
2017
Foreplay, a group performance and exhibition by Andrew Bullard, Raymond Hummel, and Blake O’Brien, The Fuller Projects, Indiana University, Bloomington
(re)Access, The Fuller Projects, Indiana University
2016
From Memory (solo), Saladino Gallery; Covington, LA
MS/AL Bi-State Art Competition, Meridian Museum of Art; Meridian, MS
Blake O'Brien: Recent Work, UBC Gallery; Hattiesburg, MS
Paper Trails, Saladino Gallery; Covington, LA
Mississippi Collegiate Arts Competition; Jackson, MS
2015
South Mississippi Art Association Juried Exhibition; Hattiesburg, MS
Senior Exhibition in Fine Arts, University of Southern Mississippi; Hattiesburg, MS
Saladino Gallery Grand Opening Group Exhibition; Covington, LA
Emerging Artists Exhibition; Hattiesburg Cultural Center, Hattiesburg, MS
2014
South Mississippi Art Association Juried Exhibition, Hattiesburg, MS
Awards:
2024
Yaddo Artist Residency waitlist
2020
Grant-in-Aid Award, Indiana University
2019
Chapter Career Award, National Society of Arts and Letters, Bloomington, IN
Pygmalion’s Art Supplies Award, National Society of Arts and Letters Juried Show
2018
Mary Jane McIntire Endowed Fellowship, Indiana University
Pygmalion's Art Supplies Award, National Society of Arts and Letters Juried Show
2017
Student Academic Appointment, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
2016
Mississippi Arts Commission Artist Fellowship Grant
Alice C. Cole Fellowship Nominee, Wellesley College
First Place Drawing, Mississippi Collegiate Arts Competition, Jackson, MS
First Place Painting, Mississippi Collegiate Arts Competition, Jackson, MS
UBC Artist-in-Residence
MS/AL Bi-State Art Competition, Artistic Achievement Award
Hattiesburg Arts Council Open Studio on Front Resident
2015
First Place Drawing, South Mississippi Art Association Juried Exhibition, Hattiesburg, MS
First Place Painting, South Mississippi Art Association Juried Exhibition, Hattiesburg, MS
Simrall Arts Scholarship, University of Southern Mississippi
2014
South Mississippi Art Association Juried Exhibition, First Place Painting
Publications:
Greene House Magazine - In Conversation: Blake O’Brien and Marissa Graziano, March 2024
Art Maze Magazine, Issue 20, 2020
New American Paintings, Issue 141, MFA Annual, 2019
Work Experience:
2024 - present: Painting Technician and Adjunct Faculty - The New York Studio School
2023: Visiting Artist, Indiana University, Bloomington
2023: Visiting Artist, Kent Place School, Summit, NJ
2022-2024: Artist Assistant - Ann Craven Studio
2021 - 2022: Artist Assistant - Jessica Dickinson Studio
2021 – 2023: Adjunct Faculty in Art – The University of Southern Mississippi
2018: Assistant Conservator – Lilly Library, Bloomington, IN
2017 – 2020: Associate Instructor – Eskenazi School of Art, Indiana University, Bloomington