O'Connor Art Studios Events8x8 HOLIDAY Art Show
Our 4th Annual Holiday Event is here! Saturday, Dec. 7th, 5-7pm @ Historic Drish House in downtown Tuscaloosa. Featuring our most popular feature, 8x8" artworks priced at $88. Other sizes at other prices also available. Over 30 local artists participating, variety of media/techniques/styles. All sales go directly to the artists. Support our local community! Visual Artist, Art Educator and Studio Director, Ruth Jatib O'Connor has been running this event since it's first year, when it was a part of the First Friday events. Grown beyond what she expected, the Historic Drish now houses the show and it's been moved to a Saturday, but the emphasis stays the same... helping support our local art community, our artists! Wheel chair accessible, kids friendly, casual and open to the public. ONE NIGHT ONLY... don't miss it!
2019 Summer Art Camp! COMPLETEDid you know that we've moved our SUMMER Art Camp to a new location? Art Camps at O'Connor Art Studios is always educational & fun as usual, but now we have a playground! Just a few minutes from the studio, easy parking AND access to outdoors, it was a great summer experience.
Create Tuscaloosa
Update: We filled up quickly. Make sure you are on our mailing list... get upcoming events notices BEFORE it hits social media and even our website! CLICK HERE.
Many of you have heard Ruth talking about this for months... it's been in the making but now it's ready. Please join us Thursday Jan. 17th. The Alabama Small Business Development Center, Tuscaloosa Arts Council, and the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama Present Create Tuscaloosa – a professional development Lunch & Learn for artists. This panel discussion by SBDC, Rosen Harwood, and JamisonMoneyFarmer PC will focus on marketing, legal and tax/bookkeeping resources and skills every artist needs. Tuscaloosa has resources to help you build and manage your creative business. Let’s Create Tuscaloosa together. Thursday, 17 January 2019 12pm – 1pm Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center No fee to attend. Space is limited. Pre-registration required. Registration closes 1/13/2019 at 11:59pm. 
UPDATE: 2019 planning in the works for this annual event... please contact us directly if you are interested in being a PARTICIPATING ARTIST this year.
Mark your calendars: Saturday, Dec. 15th 5-7pm @ The Historic Drish House This year we'll be doing it again! Our annual HOLIDAY Art Show --and back by popular demand is our featured wall of 8x8" artwork selling at $88 a piece. This very special event is focused on supporting our artists. 100% of the proceeds of each sale goes directly to the artist who created the piece, making this a non-profit event for O'Connor Art Studios and an all-profit event for our local (and beyond) artists. A wide range of themes, media and styles will be represented. JOIN US FOR THIS UNIQUE EVENT! Open to the public, free event, kid friendly. Dan Thompson 2017 Red Chalk Workshop
2017 Summer Art CampStudents are shown here on their first day of art camp. Focusing on their very first drawing, it's the quietest the studio has been in months! 2017 ARTistic Minds, ages 5-12. TEEN DRAWING CAMP June 26 - 30 is next, a one-week intensive for those interested in drawing!
Savannah College of Art and Design
Free presentation Sid Williams, Assistant Director of Admissions Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) will present at O'Connor Art Studios, Tuesday, Dec. 6th, 2016 from 5-7 P.M. This event is FREE and open to the public, but registration is highly recommended as seating is limited. Students who are interested in attending SCAD, or studying art and design in college as well as parents and educators are invited to attend!
SAIC: The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
FREE PRESENTATION 9/01/16, 5pm Prospective students, art educators and guidance counselors: see examples of visual art portfolios that were submitted by high school students for undergraduate admissions consideration in art and/or design at SAIC, one of the leading art schools in the country. This presentation offers tips and presents important information for those interested in pursuing art at the college level. Willie Mays Sculpture Progress
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O'Connor Art Studios in the NewsTuscaloosa News
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An honor for Caleb O'Connor to be part of this ceremony through his donation of two portrait paintings. Seen here, the unveiling of the portrait of Gen. Charles Krulak.
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Portrait Society of America
2017 International Portrait Competition Finalists
Co-Founder of O'Connor Art Studios, Caleb O'Connor, received special recognition during the annual The Art of the Portrait Competition. His piece "Deontay Wilder, Heavy Weight Boxing Champion" was one of the twenty-three finalists chosen amongst a pool of over 2,000 submissions. Congratulations to all the 2017 International Portrait Competition Finalists! The conference was held in Atlanta this year, April 20-23. Hope to see you next year!
Tuscaloosa News
Artist unveils model for statue of heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder
"Champion boxer Deontay Wilder, The Bronze Bomber, towers at 6-foot-7, weighing a lean, muscled 225 pounds, but his bronzed doppelganger, rising to life in Caleb O'Connor's downtown Tuscaloosa studio, will tack on 500 pounds.
Thursday in the third-floor loft used and run by Caleb and wife Ruth as O'Connor Art Studios, Wilder stood facing a clay model for the statue, built one to one scale. As it's resting on a stand, the towering boxer tilted his head up, slightly, to spy clay Deontay in the eyes...
Thursday in the third-floor loft used and run by Caleb and wife Ruth as O'Connor Art Studios, Wilder stood facing a clay model for the statue, built one to one scale. As it's resting on a stand, the towering boxer tilted his head up, slightly, to spy clay Deontay in the eyes...
Tuscaloosa News
A Symbol of Courage
Bronze bust of Johnny Spann, AL's 1st casualty in Afghanistan
The day before Veteran's Day, the parents of Johnny Michael Spann who was Alabama's first military casualty in Afghanistan saw the unveiling of their son's bronze bust. The bust, commissioned by the Alabama Marines Foundation was cast at the foundry on The University of Alabama campus and was a joint effort of Caleb O'Connor and retired Marine Col. Lee Busby.
Wiat.com News
The Story of the "Sey Hey" Statue
Willie Mays Statue Unveiled
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The Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society honored several individuals at its annual awards banquet on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015. Front row from left are: Ruth O'Connor, Sandy Wolfe, Nika McCool, Barbara Rountree, Karen Merrill, Dr. Willa Lowe, Robert “Sonny” Deason and Milla Boschung. Back row from left are: Mike Musgrove, Hallie Musgrove, Ian Crawford, Judi Rabel, Brandon Boatwright, Paul McKendrick, Keith LaCoste.
"The Tuscaloosa Arts Council for the mural restoration at the Bama Theatre. Sandy Wolfe, the council's executive director, accepted the award, and artist Ruth O'Connor was recognized for her work on the mural."
"The Tuscaloosa Arts Council for the mural restoration at the Bama Theatre. Sandy Wolfe, the council's executive director, accepted the award, and artist Ruth O'Connor was recognized for her work on the mural."
CBS News: Tuscaloosa artist creating bronze sculpture of Deontay Wilder
by Tim Reid, September 28, 2015
"Artist Caleb O’Connor is just in the beginning phase, but he is in the process of creating a lifelike bronze sculpture of boxing Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder.
The champ is from Tuscaloosa and O’Connor thought it was fitting that the famous boxer should get the recognition he deserves. O’Connor says it is going to be a long process, but worth it."
The champ is from Tuscaloosa and O’Connor thought it was fitting that the famous boxer should get the recognition he deserves. O’Connor says it is going to be a long process, but worth it."
Tuscaloosa News Article: Art Explorers Unite: O'Connor Art Camp July 28, 2015
"Working with clay under the direction of Ruth O'Connor at Art Explorers Unite, a two week art camp for children ages 5-12, held in downtown Tuscaloosa at O'Connor Art Studios. The camp focuses on a variety of projects, including clay sculpture making, painting, and printmaking." photo | Karley Fernandez ,Tuscaloosa News
Click here for complete gallery of pictures.
Click here for complete gallery of pictures.
Iyah Salinding, 6, molds clay on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 under the direction of Ruth O'Connor at Art Explorers Unite, a two week art camp for children ages 5-12, held in downtown Tuscaloosa at O'Connor Art Studios. The camp focuses on a variety of projects, including clay sculpture making, painting, and printmaking. photo | Karley Fernandez ,Tuscaloosa News
Tuscaloosa News Article: March Kicks off Art Night, First Friday downtown March 2015
"On the first Friday of every month, artists flock to art galleries in downtown Tuscaloosa, including Grace Aberdean Habitat Alchemy, Harrison Galleries, the galleries at the Dinah Washington Cultural Art Center, O’Connor Art Studios, Paul R. Jones Gallery and more." JOIN US NEXT FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH!
Tuscaloosa News Article: Best of 2013: Local events
"In another boon to downtown and the arts, artists Caleb and Ruth O’Connor decided to stay on in Tuscaloosa after his three-year commission to complete murals for the federal courthouse was done..."
Click here to read complete article by Mark Hughes Cobb, Tusk Editor. January 3, 2014.
Click here to read complete article by Mark Hughes Cobb, Tusk Editor. January 3, 2014.
Tuscaloosa News Article: Coming Soon: First Fridays
Caleb O'Connor, second from right, helps Diane Smith during a figure painting class at the O'Connor Art Studio in downtown Tuscaloosa on July 24. Tuscaloosa's Art Night, a spinoff of Northport's, is moving to the first Friday of each month to further distinguish the two and to promote some new art exhibits and places. Dusty Compton | The Tuscaloosa News
The recent growth in Tuscaloosa is not limited to the amount of apartment complexes being built or the new restaurants opened in the city — the arts community has been affected as well. Recent years have brought forth many new galleries and businesses downtown, and the Tuscaloosa has responded by moving its monthly Art Night from Thursdays to the first Friday of every month.
The recent growth in Tuscaloosa is not limited to the amount of apartment complexes being built or the new restaurants opened in the city — the arts community has been affected as well. Recent years have brought forth many new galleries and businesses downtown, and the Tuscaloosa has responded by moving its monthly Art Night from Thursdays to the first Friday of every month.
Tuscaloosa artist Caleb O'Connor opens educational studio downtown
Local artists Caleb O'Connor and his wife, Ruth, right, are opening a studio on University Boulevard. The studio, a loft in the downtown area, will host classes as well as function as O'Connor's own studio.
Dusty Compton | The Tuscaloosa News
To create the massive murals inside the Tuscaloosa federal courthouse, artist Caleb O'Connor spent months researching the area, its people and the events, the sweep of history.
Dusty Compton | The Tuscaloosa News
To create the massive murals inside the Tuscaloosa federal courthouse, artist Caleb O'Connor spent months researching the area, its people and the events, the sweep of history.