Thomas Connolly- smoke and mirrors
July 5-27, 2024
Opening reception Thursday, July 11, 5-7pm
Artist Statement:
This collection of pieces from the past year or so depicts scenes that caught my attention during my day to day life. Portland has always been dear to me, and some of these paintings you may recognize from around town. In December, my family spent some time on Kauai. These paintings are the opposite of grey Portland in the winter.
My dad died in February, and the 30th Street piece could be a portrait of him. I told my son that I was out of ideas for paintings and at my request he shared with me a few photos that he had taken. Genesee is the outcome of that collaboration. My mother's family is from Rochester with the Genesee River and brewery. The landscapes have been painted at a spot that I have been going to for years. They are painted quickly in an attempt to keep up with the changing scene.
Each piece, regardless of place or history, serves as a vehicle from which to enjoy colors together.
- Thomas Connolly
Thomas Connolly is a realist painter known for his architectural paintings of Portland, New York City and beyond. His work conveys a strong sense of place and atmosphere through subtle use of color, adding a richness to the subjects he chooses to paint.
Connolly participated in the Maine College of Art Baie Ste. Marie residency program in New Edinburgh, Nova Scotia. He was juried in to the 2011 Portland Museum of Art Biennial Exhibition, and the 2010 Center for Maine Contemporary Art Biennial Exhibition. He is the recipient of a Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant and the Sheldon Bergh Award.
