About OB

Dave O'Brien born & raised in Pittsburgh, PA, graduated from Waynesburg University in 2015 with a major in Middle Level Math and History Education. After graduation, the artist served as an inner-city math teacher, then switched his role to a permanent substitute teacher for a small private school in Pittsburgh, but quickly changed careers due to quick success with art.

In December of 2015, O’Brien picked up the paint brush for the first time when his grandmother, a former artist, lent him used oil paints, brushes, and canvasses. She encouraged him to create Christmas presents for family members rather than buying a gift. 

Family members were surprised by the gifts they had received and encouraged him to continue producing artwork.

The Pittsburgh native debuted his first work in March of 2016 when his Pittsburgh Irish was selected to be featured on the Official Pittsburgh Saint Patrick’s Parade t-shirt. More opportunities arose when O’Brien’s art was found on Full Pint Brewing beer tap handles and a designer clothing line called, VIDA.

Since the fall of 2016, O’Brien experimented with live paintings curated by Redfishbowl™, FAMEE LLC, and Pittsburgh Beautiful, and has worked on art installations for the Carnegie Library of Downtown Pittsburgh, Legends Eatery on North Shore, Delanie's Coffeeshop, War Streets Brewery, Elite Dance by Damian, Alfa Romeo, Red Bull, South Hills Beauty Academy, and curations through 501 See Streets  and Mack-Cali Reall Estate in New York, NY.

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O'Brien's work can be described as a mixture of pop, impressionism, realism, and abstract, but aims to express the mindset of a positive perceptive through a variety of subjects.

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Photography: Dylan Rosgone