John O'Connell Exhibition/Tribute

Exhibition: October 8–28, 2026 Reception: Thursday, October 22, 4:30–7:00 p.m.Family and Friends of John will be attendingJohn O'Connell came to painting late, then spent the rest of his life making up for lost time. Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, he grew up in a big Irish neighborhood in the urban Northeast and made his first painting at 28, following stints in engineering school, construction, and music. He studied at Massachusetts College of Art and the University of Connecticut, taught at Middle Tennessee State University, and joined the University of Utah faculty, where he was associate professor of Painting and Drawing for more than two decades. His paintings layered organic forms, weaving industrial textures and decomposition. Utilizing his knowledge of construction and the erosion of material, he crafted massive, artificially aged, archaeological structures. "The only history that is there is the history I put there," he said. He approached teaching as a mentor rather than an instructor. "I went into the arts because I couldn't say what I needed to say any other way, and I think most students are there for very similar reasons." He died on June 14, 2026, at 64.