Stephen O’Donnell
Born 1958, Everett, WA
Artist Statement
I was always known as the “artistic child”; from earliest youth I was always drawing, making pictures. My father was in the Air Force, so we moved all the time, and in all the many schools I attended being an artist was my entire identity. When it came time to choose to go to college or not, I rebelled against that artist label and moved to San Francisco and did everything but make art; I sang semi-professionally, designed costumes for theater, taught performance workshops, etc. But eventually, after having returned home to Portland, at the advanced age of thirty-seven I began my art career: I walked into a gallery, showed the owner my work, and two months later I had my first show.
As a painter, I’m entirely self-taught; my “art education” has come from pictures in history and art books. In many fairly obvious ways, I’m not really a “modern artist”; I paint the world of old paintings. And I’m not at all an artist who paints the world around me; the goal isn't to paint a tree that looks like a tree, but one that looks like a painting of a tree.
I frequently employ the self-portrait as the basis for my work. I've always felt that, by beginning with myself as the model, I am able to avoid the biggest limitation of the portrait as a form: that it is “about” someone specific. In my paintings, because the portrait is only of the artist, the viewer, while including whatever they might perceive of the artist, still has more opportunity to find their own narrative in whatever visual scenario I might present.
A play of gender is probably the most recognizable aspect of my work; I’ve often been referred to as the “man in a dress” artist. I'm always asked why - politically or psychologically - I choose to portray myself this way. The simplest way to explain it is that is that I identify as non-binary. So, painting myself the way I do, as a man in women's clothes – I never really try to make the illusion that I'm female – is a way of expressing this important part of my identity, the closest representation of a whole self. And then, women's clothes are just a whole lot more interesting visually, and a lot more fun to paint!
Since 2006, I’ve been married to writer and graphic designer Gigi Little. We live in Portland with our dog, Nicholas. - Stephen O’Donnell
Solo Exhibitions
2021 Re:Pose-Subverting the Gendered Gaze in the Historical Nude, Froelick Gallery,Portland
2019 Objectified, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
2018 Working Backwards, PUB Gallery of Art, Peninsula College, Port Angeles, WA
2017 Beastly, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
2015 95 / 15, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
2014 Told and Untold Stories, Winston Wächter Fine Art, Seattle, WA
2012 La Vue à travers, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
Des jeux sérieux de beauté, Winston Wächter Fine Art, Seattle, WA
2009 Dix-Huit, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
2005 Galerie des modes and Still, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
Select Group Exhibitions
2022 New paintings- Stephen O’Donnell and Calvin Jones, TEW Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2021 If I Had Wings, Northwind Art, Port Townsend, WA
Summer Group Exhibit, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
Salon Style, TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2020 Salon Style, TEW Galleries , Atlanta, GA
Seven Artists Figurative Show, TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
Winter Group Exhibition, Froelick Gallery, Portland. OR
2019 Peace on Earth, Lancaster Museum of Art and History, Lancaster, CA
2018 Winter Group Exhibition, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
2015 Art In True Fashion, Winston Wächter Fine Art and Abmeyer+Wood, Seattle, WA
2014 2014 Palm Springs Art Fair, (with Winston Wächter Fine Art), Palm Springs, CA
Fire Department, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
2013 Best Dressed / Undressed, Winston Wächter Fine Art, Seattle, WA
Summer Group Exhibition of Work by Gallery Artists, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
2012 Aqua Art Miami (with Froelick Gallery), Miami, FL
Art Platform – Los Angeles, (with Winston Wächter Fine Art), Santa Monica, CA
Undressing Room, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
2011 Aqua Art Miami (with Froelick Gallery), Miami, FL
Exquisite Allegory, Winston Wächter Fine Art, Seattle, WA
2010 The Science of Gender and Sex, 29th Annual Gender Studies Symposium, Lewis and Clark
Portland. OR
Referencing the Past, SAM Gallery, Seattle, WA
2009 34th Annual NW Natural Street of Dreams, Portland, OR
2007 First Exhibit, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
2006 Beastiary, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
2005 drawing(s) 40+ artists/200 works: A 25th anniversary exhibition, Terry Hopkins, curator,
Maryhurst University, Maryhurst, OR
Winter Group Show, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
2004 The Clown Show, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
2003 Winter Group Show, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
Reallegories / Core Sample, Belmont Factory, curator, Andrea Borsuk, Portland, OR Introductions, SAM Gallery, Seattle, WA
2002 32nd Willamette Valley Juried Exhibition, Corvallis Art Center, Corvallis, OR,
Juror: Roger Hull
Showcase 2002, Beaverton Arts Commission, Beaverton, OR, Juror: Mark Wooley
2001 East Meets West, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
Winter Group Exhibit, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
2000 PDXs to Quartersaw: Celebrating Sixteen Years, Quartersaw Gallery, Portland, OR
Open Walls, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, Portland, OR
1999 Oregon Biennial, Portland Art Museum, OR, Curator: Katheryn Kanjo (catalogue)
Pacific Rim: Oregon, Terrain, San Francisco, CA
Fin de Siècle,Terrain, San Francisco, CA
Hydrangea House, Newport, RI
1998 Joseph Chowning Gallery, San Francisco
When Voices Become Pictures: Images from Western USA, Terrain, San Francisco, CA
Fairies and Furies, LaLuna, Portland OR
Basil Hallward Gallery – Powell’s City of Books, Portland, OR
1997 The Boy Mechanic, Quartersaw Gallery, Portland OR, Curator: Paul Arensmeyer
The Garden Show, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, Portland, OR, Curator: Victoria Beal Joseph Chowning Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Quartersaw Gallery, Portland, OR
1996 Community Arts Foundation, Vallejo, CA
Basil Hallward Gallery – Powell’s City of Books, Portland OR (Fall)
Saks Fifth Avenue, Portland, OR
Basil Hallward Gallery – Powell’s City of Books, Portland OR (May)
Publication
2018 The Untold Gaze, a large-format collection of paintings paired with short fiction inspired by O’Donnell’s work.
Speaking Engagements
2018 Working Backwards: finding my way as a figurative/narrative artist in the world of
contemporary art, PUB Gallery of Art, Peninsula College, Port Angeles, WA
2011 The Figure in Contemporary Art Symposium, Tacoma Art Museum, 3 April, 2011
Awards
2011 Grand Prize Winner – “The Power of Self” Competition, Artists Wanted, New York, NY
2002 Best of Show – Showcase 2002, Beaverton Arts Commission, Beaverton, OR, Juror:
Terri Hopkins
1997 Winning Pacific Coast Competitor – New American Paintings, Open Studios Press,
Wellesley, MA, Juror: Clare Bell, Guggenheim Museum –
Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art, New York, NY
Select Periodicals and Articles
2022 Cullem, J. (2022, March 8) Review: Stephen O'Donnell's Birds and Animals Are
Meticulous, Painted Jewels. Atlanta Journal and Constitution.
2021 Stephen O’Donnell,” Shifting History’s Gaze”, Bob Hicks, Oregon Arts Watch, 14
November 2020 “Seven Artists Figurative Show,” Art Review by Felicia Feaster
Atlanta Journal Constitution
2015 “First Thursday Art Walk Preview: April 2015″, T. s. Flock, Vanguard Seattle, Seattle, WA
2014 Featured artist and interview, Menacing Hedge, a literary journal, Fall 2014
“Last Chances: Three Gallery Shows Worth Running To, August 2014″, T. s. Flock,
Seattle, WA
“Portland painter Stephen O’Donnell tries on new drag”, Michael Upchurch,
Seattle Times, Seattle, WA, 27 July, 2014
2013 “Twisted takes on summer wear at Winston Wächter”, Michael Upchurch,
Seattle Times, Seattle, WA
2012 “Painter Stephen O’Donnell: in women’s dress, but not a drag”, Michael Upchurch,
Seattle Times, Seattle, WA
2011 “Seven Questions” series interview, Laura Stanfill, Laura Stanfill, 22 August, 2011
“A Q&A With the ‘Power of Self’ Prize Winner Stephen O’Donnell,
the ‘Perverted Norman Rockwell of Portland”, Artinfo.com, 10 June, 2011
“Stephen O’Donnell”(featured artist), Artisaday.com, 30 May, 2011 “In ‘Exquisite
Allegory’ at Winston Wächter, every picture tells at least one story,” Michael Upchurch
2008 Portrait of Portland Magazine, Portland, OR, Spring (image)
2007 Just Out, Portland, OR, 19 January, p26 (image)
2006 “Stephen O’Donnell,” Judy Campanaro, Outlands, pp 19, March 2006
2005 “A Quarter Century of Quality,” Victoria Blake, The Oregonian, 2 December, 2005,
A&E “2 artists’ works on paper make good pairing,” Brian Libby, The Oregonian, 1 June,
2004 “Pocket-size catalog captures grand ideas,” Joseph Gallivan, Portland Tribune, OR
2003 “Reallegories at Belmont Factory,” Pat Boas, Art Week, December 2003 – January 2004,
Vol 34 Issue 10, Palo Alto, CA
“Self Portrait in Red Lipstick,” The Oregonian, Portland OR, 12 December 2003, pp 26, A&E
“Stephen O’Donnell at Froelick,” Grant Menzies, Willamette Week, Portland, OR, 11 December 2003, pp59
“ArtsWeek’s Radar,” Rob Kelley, The Oregonian, Portland, OR 30 November 2003, pp D9, A&E
“Show of Note,” D.K. Row, The Oregonian, Portland, OR, 19 December 2003, pp 26, A&E
“Arts Rodeo,” Portland Mercury, Portland, OR, 4 December 2003, pp 31
2002 32nd Willamette Valley Juried Exhibition,” Hester Coucke, Artspirit, Corvallis Arts Center
Linn-Benton Arts Council, Corvallis, OR, October, p 1
2001 “World Report: Portland—Crossing Boundaries: East West Symposium in Print Art,”
Hidekki Kimura, Hanga Geijutsu, Tokyo, Japan, #114, Winter, pp 132-133
“Art Saves Lives! (Sort Of): On PICA’s Visual Arts Flank,” Steffen Silvas, Willamette Week, Portland, OR, 26 December, p 26
“The Buzz That Was: October 13,”The Oregonian, Portland, OR, 28 December, A&E, pp 6-10
“The Frame Game: “East Meets West” at Froelick Gallery,” Stan Hall, The Oregonian, Portland, OR, 14 October, p F10
“Print City: Froelick Gallery,” Bob Hicks, The Oregonian, Portland, OR, USA, 9 October, p E1
2000 “New Master,“ Oriana Green, Just Out, Portland, Oregon, 7 April, p 43
“PICA: Open Walls,” Michaela Lowthian, Willamette Week, Portland, OR, 17 May, p 79
“The End of Victoria’s Era,” D.K. Row, The Oregonian, Portland, 4 June, pp F1-F8
“Decision Marks the End of an Era,” D.K. Row, The Oregonian, Portland, 15 May, pp B1-B3
1999 “A Good Look Around,” Daniel DuFord, Willamette Week, Portland, OR, 11 August, p 75
“Fin de Siècle’ at Terrain,” Mark Van Proyen, Artweek, San Jose, CA, March, p 15
“Art on the Edge,” Ron Cowan, Statesman Journal, Salem, OR, 1 August, pp 1D, 5D
“Oregon Biennial Showcases New Art,” Statesman Journal, Salem, OR, 29 July
“The Spirit of ’99,” Karen Steen & Caryn Brooks, Willamette Week, Portland, OR, 28 June, pp 41-4
“1999 Oregon Biennial Artists Chosen,” Kate Bonansinga, Willamette Week, Portland, p 66
“Gallery Watch,” David Bonetti, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, CA, 5 February, p C16
“Hooray for Biennial! Let’s Change it for 2001,” Randy Gragg, The Oregonian, Portland, 8 August
“In the Spotlight,” Randy Gragg, The Oregonian, Portland, OR, 4 August
“Oregon Biennial: Two Views,” Sue Taylor & Randy Gragg, The Oregonian, Portland, OR, 1 August, pp 1-4
“Kathryn Kanjo: On Oregon Art and Collecting,” Randy Gragg, The Oregonian, Portland, OR
“Art Old and New,” Tricia Jones, The Columbian, Vancouver, WA, 29 July, pp F14, F21
“Another View of the New,” D.K. Row, The Oregonian, Portland, OR, 30 July, p 70
“Curator Nips Biennial List: Only 25 of 700 Artists Chosen,” Randy Gragg, The Oregonian, Portland, OR, 20 June, E3
“In Second Year, Biennial Curator Urges New Forms,” Randy Gragg, The Oregonian, Portland, OR, 14 February, p F12
1998 San Francisco Monthly, San Francisco, CA, July (image)
1997 “New Adventures in Camp,” D.K. Row, Willamette Week, Portland, OR, 2 July, pp 59-60
“Manly Endeavors,” Anne Martens, The Oregonian, Portland, OR, 11 July, A&E, p 68
1996 “Form Follows Function,” Kevin Francis, Willamette Week, Portland, OR, 29 May, p 45
“Fools for Tools,” Randy Gragg, The Oregonian, Portland, OR, 10 May,pp 17-18
2008 Cascade AIDS Project 18th Annual Benefit, Portland, OR
2004 Art on the Vine, Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR
2003 Art on the Vine, Vintage 2003, Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR
Cascade AIDS Project 13th Annual Benefit, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR
2002 Art on the Vine, Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR
1999 Oregon Biennial, Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR, Essay: Kathryn Kanjo, p 28
1997 New American Paintings, Publisher: Open Studios Press, Wellesley, MA, number 13, December, pp 76-77, 123, Essay: Clare Bell
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