Monument to Donald MacKay South Boston; My adopted multi-breed dog, Mushroom. My favorite companion.

About

Boston-San Francisco-Boston again

My Background

Karen Ann Victoria O'Brien- I grew up in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston and moved, as an adult, to live in San Francisco for 22 years. Though I am a self-taught painter, I hold a degree in Visual Design from UMASS/Dartmouth. I have worked as an artist for greeting cards and in advertising. I then left my design work to support myself in other careers.

I use KAVO STUDIO because there are multiple Karen O'Brien, Artists on the internet! Presently I work from a home studio in Dedham, MA.

My Medium

I paint using acrylic, together with charcoal, glazes, papers and varnish. Inspiration comes from my environment. My favorite surface is stretched canvas. 

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My Inspiration

Taking photos in my everyday life is usually where my inspiration comes from.  Color is the underlying theme in most of my work. My art is my translation. Patterns and light are captured with my camera and show up in my work.  I paint fast and I feel my work is evolving over the last 2 years.

Where I have been

 Exhibits:       

  • Hyde Park Open Studios-2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

  • Massachusetts State House-Office of Representative Jeffrey Sanchez May 2011

  • Greater Fall River Arts Association-2011

  • The Hallway Gallery, Jamaica Plain, MA Valentines Show 2011

  • Juried Show: Whistler Museum, Lowell, MA November 2010, November 2012

  • Juried Show: JP Arts Council: On GREEN July 2010

  • JP to ME 2010, 2011, 2012

  • Jamaica Plain Art Association Fall Show 2008, 2009, Winter Show 2012

  • Jamaica Plain Open Studios, September 2009, 2010, 2011, 2022, 2023, 2024

  • The Niche Gallery in Lowell MA. 2007

  • Sausalito ART Walk event in Sausalito, CA 2007

  • Jamaica Plain Open Studios- 2011, 2013, 2023, 2024

  • Falmouth Arts Centre

  • Cape Cod Art Center October 2026

Newspaper article with a photo of a colorful floral painting titled 'A Piece of Joy' by Karen O'Brien, promoting an art exhibit at the Falmouth Art Center.
2023 Jamaica Plain Open Studios-Boston

Collections:

  • Department of Youth Services, Haverhill, MA

  • Fidelity House Human Services of Lawrence. MA

  • Pine Street Inn, Boston, MA

  • East Boston Neighborhood Health Center

  • Roxbury Community College-Roxbury, MA

  • North Suffolk Mental Health Association, Chelsea, MA

  • Homeowner’s Rehab, Inc. & Cambridge Neighborhood Apartment Housing Services, Inc.*

  • Somali Development Center-Boston, MA

  • Massasoit Community College-Liberal Arts Building-Brockton, MA

  • Victory Programs, Victory House Boston, MA

  • The Neville Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cambridge, MA

  • Spectrum Women & Children’s Program, Worcester, MA

  • Dagher Financial-Walpole, MA

  • PMC Bank Dedham, MA

  • Private Collectors in Boston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Oakland, Sausalito, CA, San Rafael, CA, Mashpee, MA, New London, CT, Andover, MA, Billerica, MA, Granger, ID, Medford, MA Brookline, MA & Woodstock, Virginia