Artist Statement
Drawing upon memories of painting trains in his youth, O'Neill conveys the impressive scale and saturated colors in his hyper-realistic paintings. The play of company logos and graffiti pieces on canvas highlight the color relationships, and the variety of patterns, and textures found in both streamline worlds of graphic design and graffiti. O'Neill often paints seldom frequented urban areas. “There’s a certain kind of atmosphere that pervades into discarded, or out of reach places” says O’Neill. Using extended perspective and without figures, he creates his own hyper reality. O’Neill’s deep knowledge of his subject and acute attention to detail bring these paintings to life, evoking a sense of awe and passion.
The paintings here represent three different series that I have been working on over the past few years. The series depict a variety of objects and settings, yet showcase my specific realist style. I have always felt compelled to create bold or eye-catching images.
"With these train paintings I'm trying to convey the physical sensation of being in close proximity of a freight."
In the "Still Life" series I gather a collection of objects and organize the composition in such a way as to bring focus to the collective formal structure.
The "Coastal" series is based on my memories of growing up on Nantucket and Cape Cod. Living in these coastal communities I have gained a great appreciation for the ocean and those who earn a living working on the water. I have tried to capture some of the feelings and memories of this way of life in these paintings by using the natural color contrast found between the neutral coastline and the intense blues. I apply many of these colors with a pallet knife, creating a thick crust that is then incorporated with layers of spray paint, creating a surface filled with texture
The Outer Cape is a land out of time, nostalgic and yet prophetic in its deep and varied pallets and textures. These elements have inspired my latest body of work, investigating the theme of a future unwritten hidden in the details of the past.
Bio
Raised on Nantucket and the South Shore, Jamie O’Neill moved to Jamacia Plain in 1998. Spending the next ten years in JP, he earned his BFA from the Art Institute of Boston, and has shown at various locations around the city. After taking off in 08 he lived in San Francisco and then Brooklyn NY. After moving back to MA with his wife together they opened a Gallery/Studio called ZBY Gallery. Originally located in the Artists colony on Rocky Neck, Gloucester MA and then on Artists' Row in Salem MA. Jamie now resides on Cape Cod with his wife and son.
Press
Acrylic Artist Magazine interview, Winter 2016 issue
Link to Boston Globe interview below
https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2015/01/17/jamie-neill-mixes-coastal-industrial-graffiti-influences/cczpjTZxtyfIj1ja17O77M/story.html
Solo Exhibition
"Capescapes" Alais 2016 Orleans MA
"Heavy Metal" Lot F 2016 Boston MA
"Nonfiction" Lot F 2013 Boston MA
Vee Vee 2013 Jamaica Plain
Bella Luna 2013 Jamaica Plain
"Tunnel Vision" Lot F 2012 Boston MA
Station 8 2012 Jamaica Plain
Bella Luna / Milky Way 2012 Jamaica Plain
James Gate 2011 Jamaica Plain
Dog Wood 2011 Jamaica Plain
North St. Glass Emporium 2008 Plymoutth MA
Cafe Cantada 2004 Jamaica Plain MA
Group Exhibition
Members Juried PMPM 2023 Provincetown MA
Members Open PAAM 2023 Provincetown MA
Members Juried PAAM 2023 Provincetown MA
Rugosa Gallery 2022 Eastham MA
"Small Works" PAAM 2022 Provincetown MA
12x12 Exhibition PAAM 2022 Provincetown MA
"Holiday Hustle" Longstreet Gallery 2021 Eastham MA
"Labor Day" Longstreet Gallery 2021 Eastham MA
Ambassadors 2 Scollay Square Gallery 2016 Boston MA
"Cred!" MS17 Art Project 2015 New London CONN
PEMPM Peabody Essex Museum 2015 Salem MA
"Going Coastal" Coastal Living Gallery 2015 Warwick RI
Thomas Young Gallery 2014 Boston MA
Art Basel Pop Up Lot F 2014 Miami FL
"Out of the Everywhere" Mother Brook 2014 Dedham MA
Rocky Neck Cultural Center Show 2014 Gloucester MA
ZBY GALLERY 2013/14 Gloucester MA
Winter Salad Lot F 2012 Boston MA
Bash, SNHU 2012 Manchester NH
Alphabet City, Hell Town 2012 Provincetown MA
Wild in the Streets, Hell Town 2011 Provincetown MA
Return, Lot F 2011 Boston MA
Good Life Group Show 2011 Boston MA
"Casket show", Good Life Bar 2010 Boston MA
"Big Small show", Lot F 2010 Boston MA
Plymouth Guild Juried Shows 2010 Boston MA
Norwood Arts Guild Group Show 2010 Boston MA
Plymouth Guild Juried Shows 2009 Boston MA
Boston State House 2008 Boston MA
Art on the Training Green 2008 Plymouth MA
Plymouth Guild Juried Shows 2008 Plymouth MA
Art on the Green, Pine Hills 2008 Cederville MA
Villa Victoria Group show 2007 Boston MA
Third Eye Open Art Auctions 2006 New Bedford MA
Plimouth Plantation Show 2006 Plymouth MA
Gallery Representation
Rugosa Gallery Eastham MA
Lot F, Boston MA
Collections
Southern New Hampshire University
Awards
Honorable Mention Art on the Training Green, Plymouth MA
Education
BFA Graphic Design, Art Institute of Boston, Boston MA