About
Quinn O’Connell investigates identity, sentimentality, and harmony through thoughtfully gestural and tonally muted works. Leading with materiality and process, the artist strips compositions down to a level of abstraction that suggests his own experience while inviting introspection from the viewer. Personal narratives and historical references collide to reveal an idealized vision of the human experience, celebrating its beauty and fullness.
On Inspiration
“I’m interested in the malleable phase we go through during childhood. Our preferences and core memories are hardwired through mere exposure and, over time, they become tied to our sense of identity. With this as a foundation, my work explores how these formative experiences can lead to yearning, reminiscence, and reenactment throughout the lifespan.”
On Process
“In my process, I reflect on my position as a contemporary artist inspired by the traditions of artistry, a love of craftsmanship, and the media boom that defines my generation. An array of influences, spanning from 90s fashion to art history, are evident in my visual language that reads somewhere in between abstraction and objectivity. In this way, the concept of ‘the reference’ becomes a theme in itself. This speaks to my general concern for aesthetics, as well as the reality that reference curation now dominates creative endeavors, often times manifesting as a personal identity.”
On Approach
“I approach works with an aim to remove everything extraneous, reducing the composition and colors to only the essential. The resulting painterly style and subtle chromatic harmonies reveal a particular proclivity towards simplicity, materiality, and open-endedness. The intention is to evoke a contemplative response to narratives that, though vaguely present, are familiar and comforting.”
On Media
“With overconsumption and rapid disposal continuing to rise, my artworks maintain the principle that quality and meaning can improve with age. The fact that each painting is a physical record of the energy, memories, and ideas that played parts in its creation is important to me. I prefer working with mediums of high quality that leave lasting impressions of the hand. Though the current art landscape is becoming increasingly digital, I look for ways to preserve classic aesthetics while remaining relevant and impactful to the modern observer.”
About
Quinn O’Connell is a visual artist based in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. After receiving his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and master’s from the University of San Francisco, O’Connell worked as a graphic designer, type designer, and art director for brands across industries while also pursuing fine arts. With a growing interest in abstraction, his focus shifted to painting for both commissions and private collections. O’Connell’s work has since expanded to include a variety of media and methods such as drawing and sculpture, though he maintains that the strongest power to communicate still belongs to the traditional means of paint and canvas.