Liam Marc O'Connor

Portraiture is central to Liam's work. He paints in layers, on surfaces varying from small metal sheets through to large scale canvases.

Liam is interested in the dialogue between portraiture today and the history of the portrait. Historical tropes and techniques are utilized and repurposed, producing a contemporary portrait not only in its colour but its content.

In 2011 Liam received his Masters with Distinction, leading to him becoming one of Axis's MAstars. Liam's works are part of collections within the UK and internationally, including work in Standard Chartered Bank and The Cambrian Hotel, Adelboden. He has also exhibited widely including shows with the Times Watercolour prize, the National Eisteddfod of Wales, the Ryder Cup and the Royal Portrait Society.

Education

2009 – 2011
MA Fine Art (with Distinction) Contemporary Dialogues, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Wales

2000-2003
BA (Hons) Fine Art (2:1), Cardiff School of Art & Design, Wales¬

January - April 2002
Erasmus Scholarship, Accademia di Belle Arti Lorenzo da Viterbo

Scholarships and Awards
2016 - Tony Goble Award
Winner at Y Lle Celf - The National Eisteddfod of Wales 2016
Given for work that conveys the poetic spirit of the Celtic nation by an artist exhibiting in the Visual Arts Exhibition for the first time

2011 - MAstars
Art professionals select the artists to watch from MA degree shows across the UK
www.axisweb.org

2002 - Erasmus Scholarship, Viterbo Italy
Three month residency at the Accademia di Belle Arti Lorenzo da Viterbo

Shortlisted for various awards and prizes including
2016 - Spectrum (Highly Commended), PS Mirabel, Manchester
2010, 2016 - Royal Portrait Society, the Mall Galleries, London
2016 - Beep (Biennial exhibition of painting) Various Galleries, Wales
2006, 2007, 2012 - Welsh Artist of the Year, St David’s Hall, Cardiff
2010 - MA & PG Contemporary Art Exhibition, Atkinson Gallery, Somerset
2007 - University of Glamorgan Purchase Prize, Millennium Centre, Cardiff
¬2005 - Sunday Times Watercolour Competition, the Mall Galleries, London
2003, 2006 - Wales Portrait Award 1, Bodelwyddan Castle, Rhyl

Bibliography/Publications
2016 - Y Lle Celf, The National Eisteddfod of Wales, Abergavenny catalogue
2016 - Beep (Biennial exhibition of painting) c...