Bio
Sean O’Hern was born in Jacksonville, FL, and raised in Pensacola, FL. He has been interested in photography from a young age. This interest stems from a desire to create beautiful images that illuminate what may be passed up as banal showing them in a new light. Additionally, he explores purely aesthetic driven work that aligns with his interest in fashion. Growing up in a small town has led him to consider why people move to one place as opposed to another and how living in a small town influences his perspective on the world. He works with the concept of longing for something greater than oneself. He feels this idea is an innate part of growing up and drives people to succeed if this motivation is focused in the right direction. Working with models and props, O’Hern creates images that are then collaged into mixed media paintings infused with symbols of suburban life and modern living.
Sean is pursuing a BFA in Digital Art at the University of West Florida (UWF). O’Hern plans to pursue an MFA in Photography, in turn pursuing a career in photography. His work has been exhibited in multiple exhibitions in The Art Gallery at UWF, and was a member of a group of students commissioned by the president of UWF to create a public sculpture for the university campus. Additionally, he has displayed work in in the Spring and Fall Pop-Up Exhibitions at UWF.
Artist Statement
I produce digital and analog photographs, digital videos, sculptures and mixed-media pieces. Working with images of beauty that are collaged together with vulgar abstract painting that is done on and around the images. Emphasis on texture and color to create atmosphere is of great concern to me. Materiality is an especially important factor in telling the story and aesthetically matching my intents. I focus on the concept of how beauty hides in plain sight, the destress of daily life, perception of one’s living conditions, and longing for betterment of oneself. I also explore the concept of how conditions in the world shape the people that make it with particular focus on the Z generation growing up in suburban America.