40 Is the New 30 Painting

Maureen O’Keefe is a portrait and figure painter living and working in mid-western Ohio. The process for Maureen's current body of work involves a return to the blind-contour drawing that is taught in beginning art classes. The artist never lifts the pencil from the surface and never looks at the drawing, only at the subject. Once a line drawing is finished, she has a template for a finished work. Her work investigates identities and belonging. Maureen received her BFA in Fine Art from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2005. She has shown work in seven states in both group and solo exhibitions, and is a current member of the cooperative Dutoit Gallery in Dayton, Ohio. Maureen is a recipient of the Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award for FY2019. She is employed at Edison State Community College as an adjunct instructor in the art department. Artist's Statement: "My work uses the portrait and figure to explore themes of identity and belonging. I have recently been very concerned with definitions of goodness and value as they relate to our place in a given community. Spiritual belief, sexuality, gender expression, race, and political leanings all influence the way we experience our communities; my work places specifically chosen individuals within the context of these intersecting identities and celebrates the humanity we share. "