Bio

Adam at the desk

Born June 16th, 1981 in Murfreesboro, TN.

BFA in Illustration/Design from The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University (2005)

His painting studios are in Abington, MA

Press

2/13/2020 – BC Heights Magazine – Artist Adam O’Day Finds Inspiration in Boston

10/11/2018 – Boston Globe – HubWeek Mural spotlight

11/17/16 – CBS Interview – Meet The Artist Behind Those Murals Around Boston

9/9/15   SATURATE   featured in the Weekly Dig

3/10/15  BDCwire – How a Boston Artist Went From Designing Navy Ships to Winning the Portrait of a City Contest

11/19/14 Lesley University Website – Artist Rising – Adam O’Day Never Puts Down His Paintbrush

7/14/14 Lesley University President – A Bright and Colorful Vision

7/9/14 Boston Globe – Colorful vision of Boston wins city-sponsored contest: “It’s not the traditional perspective of Boston,” said Karin Goodfellow, director of the Boston Art Commission, the city board that organized the contest. “It’s a lot more playful, very colorful.”

7/8/14 Boston Magazine – Artist Adam O’Day Wins Boston’s “Portrait of a City” Competition: “Adam O’Day’s bright cityscape celebrates the vitality of contemporary life in Boston.”

7/8/14 WBUR – Local Artist’s Colorful Cityscape Chosen To Represent The Spirit Of Life In Boston.

April 2014 Papercut Magazine

4/18/14 Artist Adam O’Day sees Boston in a different light – Boston Globe Article: A modern mix of Expressionism and Impressionism, sometimes with a street-art twist. “I just try to paint exactly how I want to and how I feel like I need to. That way, whatever I paint is going to be my hands.”

3/12/14 Boston Day Book did a local artist spotlight.

12/19/13 Temporary Land Bridge with a photo review of “Scraps” at Distillery Gallery.

12/17/13 Boston Hassle gives more props: but this time it’s a spotlight on GUMBO at Voltage.

10/1/13 Boston Hassle gives props: Cool hangout spot you probably don’t know yet, featuring a local art heavyweight.  Beautifying Boston’s walls for about a decade, Adam O’Day came here as an Illustration/Design student at the Art Institute of Boston.  In the past few years, he has been blowing  up with solo exhibits, group shows and work in permanent collections seemingly everywhere.   The Compass is crushing on his use of bold colors and love of cityscapes.   His painting and multimedia pieces will engage you from across a room and lure you over for closer inspection.  Grab one of the best cups of coffee in town and see what’s hanging at this chill North End meets West End cafe. – See more 
Equal Exchange Cafe
| 226 Causeway St. Boston MA 02114

6/7/13 – Write up on Wet Paint event to produce artwork for The Art of Well Being at The MFA: Wet Paint Event in Brookline Article

6/7/13 – VIDEO: Wet Paint

4/20/12 – Weekly Dig Cover and Interview

Through an individual’s personal experiences, day-to-day interactions, and general outlook on life, a perspective is formed. More often than not, this is translated into the mundane. For example—80 percent of city landscape paintings are trite and uninspired.

Thankfully, there are artists like Adam O’Day who transform familiarity by dissolving structure.

O’Day’s subject matter is gritty and destructive—he harnesses nuclear surroundings and apocalyptic themes with lush, inviting colors that create an inhabitable space. We recently chatted with O’Day, discussing his work leading up to a group show, Don’t Give Up The Ship, at Orchard Skate Shop. Read the full interview here.

“Adam’s paintings are so popular because although he’s generally working with traditional city skylines, he’s adding a fresh, bold perspective to the piece,” says Liza Hall, curator at Turning Art. “The result for the viewer is a broadly recognizable foundation that quickly becomes dynamic and engaging in a new way.” Click for full article: CBS Boston

Shakefist Magazine Review: A Night of Art and Fashion at Misha Nicole By Sabina Frizell

Cover of the Boston Globe, June 12th, 2010

Featured in Boston’s Weekly Dig, November 17th, 2010 for group show Urbanites at Distillery Gallery: “Living in cities definitely inspires me,” says artist Adam O’Day, also a Distillery resident, who created work specifically for this exhibition. O’Day will show 2-D and 3-D work, including some oversized pieces. This urbanite has lived in Kalamazoo, Mich., Atlanta, Washington DC and Boston. “I love living/working in the Distillery. Since moving here, my art is influenced by the griminess and quirky residents. There are lots of found materials for mixed-media work. I always find something in the garbage that I can reuse for creating art.” O’Day’s work has been called “scribbly and violent,” and his deeply colored Boston landscapes, often large and layered, are both dark and bright at the same time. The tone, when combined with pinks and yellows, stands as powerful, lovely and eerie while ruminating on city explosions, destruction and fire.

New York Finds Interest in Adam O’Day, posted by the DeCordova Museum’s Corporate Program

Make It Together, presented by Distillery Gallery, show featured in the Boston Phoenix, August 19th, 2011. Cave Monster Stalking a Unicorn by A. O’Day and KDONZ in full color in ad.

Exhibition History

2016-2019

Art Battle Nationals, competitor and exhibitor, Art Basel Miami, Dec 2019

Respect, 2 person show, O‘Day and Ortiz, Curation 250, Lowell, MA, 9/14/19

Visitor, Solo show at Woodman Shimko Gallery, Provincetown, MA, 8/23/19

In The Cut, Solo show at Woodman Shimko Gallery, Provincetown, MA, Aug 2018

O’DAY, solo show at Kevin Day Gallery, Boston, MA, Dec 2016-Jan 2017

Established, group show at Blochaus Gallery, Lawrence, MA, Dec 2016-Jan 2017

A Group Thing, group show at Thomas Young Gallery, South Boston, MA, Dec 2016

Secret Walls, group mural battle in Worcester, Aug 2016

East Boston Oysters, solo pop/ live painting up at secret supper club, East Boston, MA, Nov 2016

Future Arts, charity art show/live painting, Boston, MA, Nov 2016

Ambassadors 2, Fortini-Wright, Baehre, O’Neill, O’Day, City Hall, Boston, MA, Sept 2016

Beacon Hill Art Walk, group show and live painting, Boston, MA, Sept 2016

Boston Arts Fest, group show, Christopher Columbus Park, Boston, MA, Sept 2016

Downtown, solo show at Woodman-Shimko Gallery, Provincetown, MA, July 2016

CHROMA, group show at Montserrat Galleries, Beverley, MA, July-Sept 2016

Harborfest, plein aire painting festival and group art show, North End, Boston, MA, July 2016

This is Now, Houle, O’Day, Gulu-Gulu, Salem, MA, May 2016

Artweek Boston, group show, CIC, Boston, MA, May 2016

Spring Works 3, solo show at Christopher’s Cambridge, MA, April 2016

Opocadonz 2, KDONZ and O’Day, Aeronaut Brewing, Somerville, MA, March 2016

2015

Urban Romantics, O’Day, Sebastiano, Wakeen and Stebbings at Porter Mills Gallery, Beverly, MA, 9/17/15

SATURATE, solo show at Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA, Reception 9/10/15-Jan ’16.

Portrait of a City, Woodman/Shimko Gallery, Provincetown, MA, July ’15

Other, Solo Show, Gulu Gulu, Salem, MA, May ’15

2014

Art Basel Boston, Group Show, Sweettree Gallery. Dec ’14 – Jan ’15

Scene By South Boston, Group Show at The BCEC, South Boston, MA, Nov ’14 – March ’15

SBOS Group Show at Distillery Gallery, Nov. ’14

Architectura Articulation, Group Show at Audio Concepts, Boston, MA, 9.26.14

Vialé, Solo Show, Cambridge, MA, Oct 14′ – Oct ’15

One for the Ditch, Collaborative/Solo Show at Arch Gallery, Allston, MA, 8.23.14

Waves of Summer, Group Show at Sweettree Gallery, Allston, MA, 7.25.14

Dissolving Structure, Solo Show at Cassandra Complex Gallery, Provincetown, MA, 6.13.14

Solo Show at Christopher’s, Cambridge, MA, April, 2014

Solo Show at FP3 Gallery, Fort Point,, Boston, MA, March, 2014

Bold Lines, 4 person show at Gallery 111 in Concord, MA, 2.1.14

Gumbo, Collaborative show of 15 artists at Voltage, Kendall Sq, Cambridge, MA, Jan, 2014

2013

Calicornicopia 2, Group Show at Calico, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY, Dec, 2013

Scraps, Group Show at Distillery Gallery, South Boston, MA, 12.5.13

Solo Artist Showcase at JP Licks in Brookline, MA, Sept-Dec, 2013

Boston Strong / Boston Proper, 9 man show at Bunker Hill College Gallery, Charlestown, MA, 10.24.13

ABX Live Art Wall presented by DeCordova Museum, 6 artists, Boston, MA, Oct, 2013

Equal Exchange Present Artwork by Adam O’Day, Boston, MA, October, 2013

Transformation, Solo Show at Exclusive Jewels, Beacon Hill, Boston, MA, April ‘13-Feb 2014

AHTS Fest, large outdoor arts festival in Boston’s North End, Sep,t 2013

Slummer Camp, KDONZ, MRNVR, O’Day, Distillery Gallery, Boston, MA, July-Aug, 2013

The Foundry Equation, Group Show at the Foundry Building in Kendall Sq, Cambridge, MA, 6.22.13

MFA presents Believe in Brookline Kids’ Fund Benefit Art Auction, MFA, Boston, MA, June, 2013

South Boston Open Studios, Spring Group Show, Distillery Gallery, Boston, MA, June, 2013

Spring Arts Group Show on Commerce Square Media Wall, Philadelphia, PA, Spring, 2013

Spring Works, O’Day, KDONZ and Flood, at Christopher’s, Cambridge, MA, April, 2013

BFA Alumni Invitational Exhibition, Centennial Group Show at AIB Main Campus Gallery, Boston, MA, 3.21.13

Art for Paws Charity Group Art Show at Urbio Gallery, Greenfield, MA, April, 2013

Artwork by Adam O’Day at Za, Arlington, MA, Jan-June, 2013

2012

Ambassadors, Josh Falk, Sean Flood, Adam O’Day, Felipe Ortiz and Percy Fortini-Wright at Boston City Hall, 12.10.12-1.18.13

Winter Salad, Group Show at Lot F, Boston, MA, 12.14.12

Calicornicopia, Holiday Group Show at Calico, Brooklyn, MA, 12.7.12

South Boston Open Studios, Fall Group Show, Distillery Gallery, Boston, MA, Nov, 2012

New Media / Fresh Paint, Large Group Show at New Art Center, Presented by DeCordova, Newtonville, MA, 11.2.12

FOUR, Lot F, Mike Hammecker, Adam O’Day, Elizabeth Kirby Sullivan, Dave Tree, Boston, MA, 11.2.12 Promo Video: Lot F Presents FOUR

Exhibit A, Group Show at Calico, Brooklyn, NY, 9.28.12

Art on the Roof, Group Show, Boston, MA, 9.27.12

Boston Ahts Festival, Boston, MA, 9.8, 9.9, 2012

Adam O’Day’s Phantasm Galaxy, Solo show at the Mission, Boston, MA, July, 2012

Destitute Rascals, 2 man show at Lord Hobo: Scott Murry and Adam O’Day, Cambridge, MA, 6.21.12

Prana, Solo show, Watertown, MA, May 2012

Don’t Give Up The Ship, show with M Hart, S Chasse and R Larrow at Orchard, Allston, MA May, 2012

Dystopia Filter III, 31 artist show at Section 440, Brooklyn, NY, 3.9.12

LOVE HATE, 20 artist show at Eastside Gallery, South Boston, MA, 2.17.12

OPOCADONZ, 2 man show with Kdonz at BLVD. Newbury St., Boston, MA, 2.3.12

2011

The Hundreds, Group show at LAP Gallery, Waltham, MA, 12.9.11

Salad 3.0, Group show at Lot F Gallery, Boston, MA, 12.9.11

Distillation, Group show at Distillery Gallery, South Boston, MA, 12.2.11

Winter Works II, Solo Show, Christopher’s, Cambridge, MA, Nov 2011-Jan 2012

Phantasm Galaxy, Solo/Collaborative Show, Cambridge Common, Cambridge, MA, Sept-Nov, 2011

Boston Breakthrough, Sean Boyce, Studios, Group show on Newbury, Aug-Oct, 2011

Arts for Hearts, Auction to benefit American Heart Assoc, Ned Devine’s, Boston, MA, Oct, 2011

Infusion, Solo Show Presented by Misha Nicole, New York, NY, Aug-Oct, 2011

Citizen Pub, Fenway, Boston, MA, Summer, 2011

Fuck Yeah America, LAP Gallery, Waltham, MA, Summer, 2011

South Boston Open Studios, Group Show, Distillery Gallery, Boston, MA, June 5th, 2011

The 2nd Dimension, A Glovebox Group Show, April 30th, 2011

Boston by Boston, A Glovebox Group Show, April-July, 2011

Franklin Cafe, Group Show, South Boston, MA, Jan-Aug, 2011

West Side Lounge, Group Show, Cambridge, MA, Mar-Apr, 2011

Go Small, Group Show at Distillery Gallery, Boston, MA, March, 2011

Vee Vee Restaurant, Solo Show, Jamaica Plain, MA, Mar-April, 2011

The Today Show, 2 Man Show with T. Robertson at Lot F Gallery, Boston, MA, Feb, 2011 Click for Promo Video: Lot F Present The Today Show

Neckpunch, Collab Show with KDONZ at Lord Hobo, Cambridge, MA, Dec 2010-Feb, 2011

2010

Shakefist 2 yr Anniversary Show, Group Show, Launch Pad, Roxbury, MA, March, 2010

Build Boston, Architect Convention, Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA, Nov 17-19, 2010

Salad 2.0, 5 Man Show at Lot F Gallery, Boston, MA, Nov-Dec, 2010

South Boston Open Studios, Group Show, Distillery Gallery, Boston, MA, Nov 6-7, 2010

Urbanites, 6 Man Show, Distillery Gallery, Boston, MA, Nov 18, 2010

Focus, Group Show, Wengren Gallery at The DeCordova Museum, Lincoln, MA, Sept 2010-Jan, 2011

Concrete Jungle, Group Show presented by LOT F Gallery. Boston, MA, Summer, 2010

Good Life, presented by LOT F Gallery. Boston, MA, Summer, 2010

Tasty Burger, presented by Scott Chasse. Boston, MA, Summer, 2010 – Permanent

The Hallway Gallery, 3 Man Show, Jamaica Plain, MA, 10.7.10-10.31.10

Good Life, presented by LOT F Gallery. Halloween Coffin Paintings Show, Boston, MA, Oct, 2010

F.A.M.E., 3 Man Show at Via Matta in Park Plaza Hotel, Boston, MA, Aug, 2010

Za Restaurant, Solo Show in Arlington, MA, Aug-Sept., 2010

Getting Warmer, West Side Lounge, Solo Show in Cambridge, MA, May-July, 2010

Winter Works, Christopher’s, Solo Show in Cambridge, MA, March, 2010

The Connect, 7 Man Show at Lot F Gallery, Boston, MA, March, 2010

Muse, Group show in New London, CT, Nov 2009-Jan, 2010

2009

The New Different, 7 Man Show at Lot F Gallery, Boston, MA, Nov, 2009

Cirque Du Noir, Group Charity Benefit Art Show at Bocado, Worcester, MA, Oct, 2009

Collective Expressions, Group Show, Abington, MA, Oct. 2009

Got Art? Group Show at The Zullo Gallery, Medfield, MA, Oct, 2009

Hair Smugglers, 1369 Coffeeshop, 2 Man Show in Cambridge, MA, August, 2009

Corporate Collection, DeCordova Museum, Lincoln, MA, Sept, 2009-Sept, 2010

Savant Project, Solo Show in Boston, MA, July, 2009

Za Restaurant, Solo Show in Arlington, MA, June-July, 2009

Easter Bunny Decadence, Group Show at Out of the Blue Gallery, Cambridge, MA, Easter, 2009

2008

Christopher’s, Solo Show in Cambridge, MA, Nov-Dec, 2008

Fantastic Four, Group Show at The Middle East Rock Club, Cambridge, MA, Nov-Dec, 2008

The Dead Will Rise Again, Group Show at All Asia, Cambridge, MA, Oct, 2008

Got Art? Group Show at The Zullo Gallery, Medfield, MA, Oct, 2008

For the Love of Music, Group Show at The Middle East Rock Club, Cambridge, MA, Sept, 2008

The Big Finish, Group Art Auction at The High Museum in Atlanta, GA, March, 2008

Za Restaurant, Solo Show in Arlington, MA, May, 2008

SoWA Art Walk, Art fair in South End, Boston, MA, May, 17-18, 2008 & 2009

Gulu Gulu Café, Solo Show at Café Gallery in Lynn, MA, Winter, 2008

Cambridge Common, Solo Show in Cambridge, MA, Spring, 2008

Out of the Blue Gallery, General Collection, Cambridge, MA, Jan-Dec, 2008

1998-2007

Mischief, Solo Show at The Middle East Rock Club, Fall, 2007

300 Views, Group art show in City Hall, Boston, MA, Fall, 2005

Reel Art, Solo Show at The Reel Bar, Fall, 2005

Espresso Royale, Solo Show at Boston University Coffee Shop, Spring, 2005

Senior Illustration Group Show, Newbury St. Gallery at the Art Institute of Boston, Fall, 2004

Reject Art Group Show, The Lounge Gallery at the Art Institute of Boston, Fall, 2004

The Great Frame-Up, Group Show in Marietta, GA, Spring, 1998-1999