Sean Michael O’Connor (b. 1984) is an American artist, living and working in Sunnyside Gardens, New York. Known for his original use of color his creative practice is expressed through painting, illustration, film and printmaking. For the last 22 years he has amassed a wide and dynamic range of commercial and independent projects. Moving from Ohio to New York City in 2005, Sean was offered to work at the infamous Curious Pictures animation studio as Scenic Artist and Art Director. At Curious he formed a friendship with stop motion animation Directors Rohitash Rao and Abe Spear, hiring him on several commercials and music videos. As the traditional animation industry began to transition to CG format , In 2009 O’Connor joined the United Scenic Artist of America represented as a Scenic Artist and Art Director for commercial, film and TV production. For more than 16 years he contributed as a lead painter to critically acclaimed major motion pictures like Law and Order, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, to name a few. His accumulative film experience for almost two decades has led him into the field of fine arts and specialized exhibitions with world renowned designers, brands and Artist’s. All the while he has been maintaining his own creative practice in painting and design. The joyful lure of animation and storytelling has consistently influenced Sean’s unique sense of color and light in his paintings. His chosen methods and use of the medium gouache is a continuum of the Disney background painters of the 1950s and 60s. Studying the art of Visual story telling through color theory and design, O’Connor has created his own methodology used to create colorful works that encourage long looking while invoking satisfaction to the eyes.

CV

2025 “The Frequency” Broodworks  Brooklyn, NY

2024 “Art On Paper” Booksmart Fair Pier 36, New York City
2024 “Rules of the Game”  Center for Book Arts, New York City

2023 “Visionary” Psychedelic Assembly Gallery  New York City

2021 “Flowers and space” Real Eyes Gallery Adams, Mass.

2019 “Portals”  The Artist Outpost New York City, NY
2018 “Veils” Real Eyes Gallery Adams, Mass
2017 “Bushwick Open Studios” The Bogart Brooklyn, NY

2015  B.O.S. Pinebox Brooklyn, NY
2014  B.O.S. 19 Thames Brooklyn,NY
2013  B.O.S. Life Cafe Gallery Brooklyn,NY

Residency

2022 Burren College of Arts Immersion Residency Ireland

2020 The Lofts at Beacon Artist in Resident Beacon, NY
2017 CoSM Artist in resident Wappingers Falls, NY
2016 CoSM Intensive painting workshop Wappingers Falls, NY