About

Short Bio

The granddaughter of John Stanton, the well-known Bay-Area painter, O’Connor has always wanted to pursue an artistic career, but because fortune has a way of sending one on a different course than planned, she started to make art later in life. O’Connor received an AA in art from College of Marin and a BA in studio art from Sonoma State University, where she studied under Jay DeFeo. She has exhibited her work at juried shows, winning several awards. Her work is in a number of private collections.

Statement

I am inspired by my interest in folk art, cave paintings, and the surfaces of archaeological objects - time-worn, textured and unearthed from long ago. I use a variety of materials and tools to achieve the work's distinctive textural surface. Oil, cold wax, pen and pencil are my mediums. Each line and mark conveys an emotional component.

Biography

O'Connor was born in San Jose, California and was raised in Fair Oaks, California. She was raised in a family that had a great artistic influence on her largely because of her grandfather, John Aloysius Stanton, a prominent Bay Area painter in the late 19th and early 20th centuries whose work is still in demand. She attended Sacramento City College and then married and raised 4 children while working for the government. Later she resumed her interest in art making and attended College of Marin which had many well known teachers, and then transferred to Sonoma State University where she gained a wealth of art information and was able to connect with and learn from Jay DeFeo for one and Inez Storer for another. She has been pursuing her art dream since then, but with some time off to deal with a major family tragedy and other unfortunate situations beyond her control. She has spent many years looking at art, talking about art, thinking about art, and making art. Her favorite all-time artist is Anselm Kiefer. Another favorite is Raymond Saunders.

Resume / CV

Cecily O'Connor

Artist

415-497-9793

cesrob@yahoo.com

Marin MOCA website

Saatchi Art website

cecilyoconnorartist.artcall.org

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EDUCATION:

B.A. Sonoma State University (Painting and Drawing)

Studied Under Jay DeFeo

A.A. College of Marin, Kentfield CA (Art - Painting and Drawing)

A.A. College of Marin, Kentfield CA (Liberal Arts)

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GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

2023 Graton Gallery, Graton CA, Small Works (2 paintings)

2023 Marin MOCA “Altered Worlds”

2022 Las Laguna Art Gallery “Women Artists”

2022 Marin MOCA “ What is Art For”

2021 Artworks Downtown

2021 The Quest

2021 Graton Gallery Small Works, Curated

2021 The Villages at Hamilton

2021 Marin MOCA “Here and Now”

2020 Artworks Downtown, Small Works, Curated

2020 The Villages at Hamilton, Group Show

2020 Marin Community Foundation, Curated cont.

2019 Artworks Downtown Member Show

2019 Marin Community Foundation, Curated

2019 Marin MOCA, “Open to Interpretation”

2018 Marin Civic Center, Group Show

2017 Artworks Downtown, Christmas Member Show

2017 Richmond Art Center, Group Show

2017 Marin MOCA, “Hidden”

2016 Marin MOCA, “Altered Books”

2016 Marin MOCA, “Layers”

2015 Artworks Downtown, Christmas Member Show

2015 Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, “Secrets”

2015 Artworks Downtown, “Fire and Water”

2015 Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, “Collaboration”

2015 Marin MOCA, “Metamorphosis”

2014 Marin MOCA, “Rising Tides/Shifting Boundaries”

2014 Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, “Motion/Emotion”

2013 Bay Model “Big is Beautiful”, Sausalito CA

2013 Rileystreet San Rafael

2013 Falkirk Spring Annual

2013 Upstream People Gallery -

15th Annual All Media Juried Online Int'l Art Exhibition

2012 Falkirk Silent Auction

2012 Falkirk Fall Annual

2012 14th Annual Faces Juried Online Int'l Art Exhibition

2011 Artworks Downtown Small Works Exhibit

2011 Marin County Civic Center (non juried)

2010 Artisans Art Gallery

2010 Marin County Civic Center (non juried)

2009 Marin County Civic Center (non juried)

2008 Marin County Civic Center (non juried)

Marin County Fair (4 yearly events 1980s and 1990s)

Marin Society of Artists (3 events 1980s and 1990s)

1984 Falkirk Annual

1982 Sonoma State University Gallery

1982 San Francisco Art Festival

1981 Sonoma State University Gallery

1979 International Year of the Child (traveling exhibition)

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SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

2013 Community Media Center of Marin

2013 E Street Open Studio

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AWARDS:

Marin County Fair:

l Best in Class

2 Honorable Mentions

Marin County Fair:

2 Merit Awards

Marin Society of Artists:

Northern California Open Annual 2nd Place

1 Merit Award

Falkirk Annual:

1 Honorable Mention

Artisans Art Gallery:

1 Notable Mention

14th Annual Faces Juried Online Int'l Exhibition:

Special Recognition

Marin MOCA, “Motion/Emotion”

Honorable Mention

Marin MOCA “Rising Tides - Shifting Boundaries:

Second Place

Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, “Altered Books”

Honorable Mention

Marin MOCA, "What Is Art For"

Second Place

Marin MOCA , "Altered Worlds"

Third Place