Biography

Paul O’Connor is an Irish contemporary artist whose work explores ideas of masculinity, form and visual storytelling. His work draws on a lifetime of looking closely at how images work – from classical art and art history to comics, movies and design – forming an intersection that has shaped his eye since childhood.

His work often centres on the male figure, approached with a mix of realism, curiosity and cultural awareness. Alongside these, he explores subjects that catch his imagination — details in nature, fragments of landscape, or visual echoes from the film, comic and design worlds that have influenced him throughout his life.

Before turning his focus to fine art, Paul spent over three decades working as a graphic designer, a background which informs every part of his practice: a precise understanding of composition, colour, balance and visual hierarchy; a familiarity with print processes and materials; and an ability to communicate through imagery with clarity and intent. Far from starting over, he builds on a foundation that has been in place for years.

Paul continues to expand his practice through ongoing study, research and experimentation, balancing discipline with a more playful side he shares in sketches and works-in-progress. He is currently developing a body of work that reflects his own perspective on image-making: thoughtful, meticulous, and shaped by decades of creative experience.