Artist Registry
The White Columns Curated Artist Registry is an online platform for emerging and under-recognized artists to share images and information about their respective practices. The Registry seeks to create a context for artists who have yet to benefit from wider critical, curatorial or commercial support. To be eligible, artists cannot be affiliated with a commercial gallery in New York City.
To apply to the Registry, click here. Join our mailing list here to receive our open call announcement and other programming updates. For any further questions about the Registry, please contact us at registry@whitecolumns.org.
RESUME
Blake O’Brien (b. 1993, Gulfport, MS) received a BFA from The University of Southern Mississippi and an MFA from Indiana University. His work has been included in New American Paintings, Greene House Magazine, and Artmaze Magazine. O’Brien lives and works in Ridgewood, Queens and teaches at the New York Studio School.
Education
2020 MFA - Painting, Indiana University
2015 BFA - Drawing & Painting, The University of Southern Mississippi
Solo Exhibitions
2023
Staring into the Sun, Kent Place School, Summit, NJ
2020
Signs of Sometimes, MFA Thesis, Grunwald Gallery, Bloomington, IN (online exhibition)
2016
From Memory, Saladino Gallery, Covington, LA
Blake O’Brien: Recent Work, UBC Gallery, Hattiesburg, MS
Group Exhibitions
2025
Perceptions, The Re Institute, Millerton, NY
Altar Party, NYSS DUMBO Project Space, Brooklyn, NY
Signs of Life, St. Kate Arts, Milwaukee, WI
2024
There is a Velvet World, 544 Park Ave, Brooklyn, NY
A Secret Theater, Greene House, Brooklyn, NY
Friend of a Friend, 84 14th St, Brooklyn, NY
2023
Alphabet Soup, curated by E.E. Ikeler, Essex Flowers, New York, NY
2022
The Patriot, O’Flaherty’s, New York, NY
Spooky Show, Greene House, Brooklyn, NY
Faculty Show, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
2021
Tactile Sublime, Dōdōmu Gallery, Brooklyn, NY (online exhibition)
2019
Delphian Open Call Exhibition, Delphian Gallery, London, UK
National Society of Arts & Letters Annual Exhibition, Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center, Bloomington, IN
2018
The Big Tent Film Exhibition, 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 Annual Exhibition, Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center, Bloomington, IN
2017
Foreplay, performance with Andy Bullard and Raymond Hummel, The Fuller Projects, Bloomington, IN
(re)Access, The Fuller Projects, Bloomington, IN
2016
MS/AL Bi-State Art Competition, Meridian Museum of Art, Meridian, MS
Paper Trails, Saladino Gallery, Covington, LA
Mississippi Collegiate Arts Competition, Jackson, MS
2015
Saladino Gallery Opening Exhibition, Covington, LA
Emerging Artist Exhibition; Hattiesburg Cultural Center, 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 Annual Exhibition
2019 Pygmalion’s Art Supplies Award, National Society of Arts and Letters Annual Exhibition
2018 Mary Jane McIntire Endowed Fellowship, Indiana University
2018 Pygmalion's Art Supplies Award, National Society of Arts and Letters Annual Exhibition
2017 Student Academic Appointment, Indiana University
2017 Granfalloon Art Prize, City of Bloomington, IN
2016 UBC Artist-in-Residence
2016 MS/AL Bi-State Art Competition, Artistic Achievement Award
2016 Hattiesburg Arts Council Open Studio on Front Residency
2016 Mississippi Arts Commission Fellowship
2016 First Place Painting, Mississippi Collegiate Arts Competition
2016 First Place Drawing, Mississippi Collegiate Arts Competition
2015 First Place Painting, South Mississippi Art Association Juried Exhibition
2015 First Place Drawing, South Mississippi Art Association Juried Exhibition
2015 Simrall Arts Scholarship, The University of Southern Mississippi
2014 First Place Painting, South Mississippi Art Association Juried Exhibition
Publications
2024 Greene House Magazine, In Conversation: Blake O’Brien and Marissa Graziano
2020 Art Maze Magazine, Issue 20
2019 New American Paintings, Issue 141, MFA annual
Relevant Work Experience
2024 – present: Painting Technician and Adjunct Faculty, New York Studio School
2023: Visiting Artist, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
2023: Visiting Artist, Kent Place School, Summit, NJ
2022 – 2024: Studio Assistant for Ann Craven, New York, NY
2021 – 2023: Adjunct Faculty in Art & Design (remote), The University of Southern Mississippi
2021 – 2022: Studio Assistant for Jessica Dickinson, Brooklyn, NY
2017 – 2020: Associate Instructor – Eskenazi School of Art, Indiana University, Bloomington
2018: Assistant Conservator – Lilly Library, Bloomington, IN
2016 – 2017: Gallery Assistant – The University of Southern Mississippi Art Gallery