Today we’d like to introduce you to Seamus Conley.
Seamus, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I was born and raised in LA. The majority of my childhood and teenage years were spent in Santa Monica. I began drawing and painting at an early age and never had any formal training or went to art school. In my early 20’s, I began going to all the Museums and galleries that LA had to offer. I learned a lot about art and painting by observing everything I saw. I then began showing my paintings. One of my first shows was an exhibit I organized with an artist friend in Venice. Later, I would show my work in warehouse shows in Downtown LA and eventually, I graduated to showing with more reputable galleries. I moved to San Francisco in 2006 and for the past few years, I’ve been splitting my time between Los Angeles and the Bay Area. I currently have a studio space in a warehouse in Inglewood where I paint.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I paint and draw. I mainly work with oils on canvas. Over time painting is something that has become part of my identity. Sometimes it’s hard to think of myself separately from being an artist. It has helped me in many situations and gives me an opportunity to look at life in different perspectives and to critically think about and question my own existence. I think my aim is to communicate something unspoken. I’d like my paintings to give the viewer a moment to reflect. Hopefully, people walk away with more questions than answers.
Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
Being an artist had changed a lot from when I first started. It felt more like a stream, with a handful of artists whose work you would see in person or in physical magazines. Now that art like most things has shifted online, it feels more like an ocean. With thousands, maybe millions of artists from around the world instantly on your phone. Social media has made exposure easier but can make the experience feel less personal as well. LA is a really fun place to be an artist these days. With all of the museums, galleries, murals, etc… Art has really become part of the fabric of the city and a really inspiring place to be.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Of course, people can see my work online and I also exhibit in galleries. People can support me by following me online and making an effort to view my work in person. My latest exhibit was at Andrea Schwartz Gallery in San Francisco titled “Paradise Syndrome”. Recently, I’ve begun to work with Patrick Painter Inc, a legendary gallery in Santa Monica and will be exhibiting there in the near future.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.seamusconleystudio.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seamus_conley/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seamus.conley.1?ref=br_rs
Image Credit:
Seamus Conley
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
