An avid urban hiker and photographer, Rory ONeal spends as much time as possible out on the streets with his medium format, mirrorless camera and tripod. “My favorite time for these pleasures is late at night when I have the city to myself. I am delighted by the pedestrian, everyday scenes I encounter, especially when the streets are deserted.” ONeal presents his meditative, austere scenes in limited edition, large, square-format archival pigment prints. The sights are common, architectural landscapes, caught by long exposure at night, and abstracted in photographic fragments. ONeal hopes his compositions unveil a new perception for viewers, to enable them to see his subjects “...in a new way — or maybe for the first time — as I see them. In gazing these works, I invite the beholder to join me in ‘my church.’”
Above: Rory ONeal- "November Fog 2 - PDX" archival pigment print 42x42"
Above image: Rory ONeal Foggy Marquam - PDX
archival pigment print 1/5 42x42"
Having earned a BFA in sculpture at the School of Art & Design at Texas State University in San Marcos, TX, ONeal transitioned into painting after art school. For many years, ONeal created large scale abstract canvases. While on sabbatical in 2015, ONeal spent two months in Manhattan, walking every block of the island — covering over 600 miles in thirty-four days which he documented in photographs intended to be used for studies for a large body of painting work for an upcoming show. The unintended result, however, was an exhibition of large scale photographs with an accompanying book, Urban Hike of Manhattan. ONeal has considered himself primarily a photographer ever since.
ONeal’s current exhibition at Blackfish Gallery features
scenes from Portland, OR and NYC.
GALLERY TOUR
Back Room Gallery
You got Guns, We got Guns Too
Charles Siegfried
Paintings focused on violence and war.
Image info: Charles Siegfried, Don’t Front acrylic & tempera on styrofoam 34” x 22”