Rory OBrien is a versatile painter working in oils, acrylics and watercolours. With a background in photography and printmaking, Rory has been exhibiting his artwork since 1992 and has held solo shows across a range of mediums. Based in Sydney, his impasto oil paintings are inspired by Australia’s ocean culture, focussing on swimmers in ocean pools. Rory has a Bachelor of Art in Visual Arts, has studied screen printing and Japanese printmaking, and has completed postgraduate design studies.
2025: Affordable Art Fair Sydney, with Northern Beaches Gallery
2025: SALT, solo show as part of winning 2024 Summer Art Prize, Northern Beaches Gallery, Sydney
2025: Fusion, curated group show M2 Gallery, Sydney
2024: Affordable Art Fair Sydney, curated group stall
2024: LEAP, curated group show M2 Gallery, Sydney
2023, October: The Other Art Fair Sydney, Barangaroo
2023: ELEMENTAL, curated group show M2 Gallery, Sydney
2022, December: The Other Art Fair Sydney, Barangaroo
2022, July: The Other Art Fair Sydney, Barangaroo
2022: Contours/Currents, curated joint show with Karen Michael, M2 Gallery, Sydney
2021: Released, solo painting show (80 works). Room 205 gallery, Darlinghurst
2013: Fifty Frames - solo photography show, Alpha House, Erskineville
2006: Linocuts, solo printmaking show, New View Gallery, Newtown
2005: Rory OBrien (self-titled), solo printmaking show, New View Gallery, Newtown
2004: Carve Snap Print, solo printmaking show, New View Gallery, Newtown
1996: Rise. AD163 Gallery, Glebe
PRIZES
2025: Winner, Blue Ribbon, RAS Arts and Crafts competition for Marine/Seascape painting
2024: Winner, Northern Beaches Gallery - Summer Art Prize 2024
2024: Commended, Drummoyne Art Society exhibition
2023: Finalist, Drummoyne Art Society exhibition
2020: Finalist, Drummoyne Art Society exhibition
2019: Finalist, Burwood Art Prize Exhibition
2018: Finalist, Hunters Hill Art Prize Exhibition
STUDIES
2017: Screenprinting workshop, National Art School, Sydney
2016: Mokohunga workshop, CfSHE Annex, Tokyo Japan
1998: Graduate Diploma, Design, University of Technology, Sydney
1988: Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts), City Art Institute (now COFA), Sydney