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Conor Broderick Bio / Artist Statement

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Conor was born in Williamstown, MA, and is a self-taught painter who works in watercolor, charcoal, oil, and mixed media. He discovered art as a positive outlet for expression and enjoys communicating through his creations. Conor believes that art can be a powerful tool for coping with challenging situations and hopes to inspire others to explore their own creativity. His passion for art has led him on a fulfilling journey that has opened up new possibilities for him.

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Conor is actively involved with the restorative justice community and plans on making his passion for advocacy and art a lifelong pursuit.  Some of Conor’s recent projects include developing a program that encourages at-risk youth to explore emotional growth using art and nature.  Conor’s artwork has been recently published in the “Pathways” 8th issue of Craigardan Journal.  Conor would like to thank the whole Marking Time Family as well as Wendy Jason and Ava Dennis of the Justice Arts Coalition for their unwavering support. Conor is currently living in Takoma Park , MD.
 

About the  Justice Arts Coalition - a national network and resource for those creating art in and around the criminal legal system.  Please consider joining me in support of their important work. 
To do so, CLICK here.  https://thejusticeartscoalition.org/donate/

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LINKS:

• Portfolio: https://thejusticeartscoalition.org/portfolio/conor-broderick/

• Website: https://tahawuscenter.wixsite.com/conorbroderickartist

• Education Project - Grow through Art- The Tree Project, by Conor Broderick 

• Art Inquiries: TahawusCenter@gmail.com

 

Conor Broderick: Thoughts on Art and Process

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We must adapt in order to satisfy our creative parts, or we will just tread the colored waters eventually undermining in our own muddy complacency. I have been called an elitist for saying that true artists have a responsibility to progress in their repertoire, to push themselves.  CB

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Art is important. It has taught me how to adapt. When learning something new, you have to be able to have a plastic concept of how things work. This means a willingness to change insight, which can lead to a more informed way of life. Art is important to me because I am allowed to explore my creative lens, constantly progressing, trying to find different artistic styles that can be employed to describe various emotions. Art should be fluid, not in just the process of building a piece but over greater spans of time, an artist should be building on their skill set, but more importantly a dynamic artist will regularly attempt to leave their comfort zone.  Art is important.  It grounds me.  CB

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The fantasy work is a whole other realm -- get it?  These efforts truly have a mind of their own, the landscapes. Part of the reason why I adore watercolor is because of its principle: it’s water.  Empirical data will be quick to point out that man has a difficult time completely controlling H20.  You may be able to suggest to the paint and water where it should go and how to interact, but there will always be an independent Fellini-esque quality about its nature. Having said this, while painting in a "Rorschach test" style, it manifests in a weird "catch me if you dare" game. My eye might see a new line, hue or even subject, but I must act fast before it all washes away. The technique allows me to play a god of my own world into which I am painting a portal!   I kid to my friends that I am going on a vacation when painting those fantasy landscapes.  But it's no joke.  (CB from Manifesto, 2018)

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Recent Group Exhibitions

2023 

• Exhale" Liberty Arts Gallery, Yreka, CA. Feb 24-June 30, 2023

• "Proximity", Open Sky Gallery, Montague, CA, May 8-June 30, 2023

• Marking Time Group Exhibit TOUR: Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration, curated by Nicole Fleetwood. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, opening May -Dec 2023, NYC, 

2022

• Marking Time Group Exhibit TOUR: Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration, curated by Nicole Fleetwood. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, opening May 1, 2023, NYC, Brown University Galleries, Providence, RI. (fall 2022), National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Cincinnati, OH (spring/summer 2022)
   

• "Sotto Voce" group show, curated by Justice Arts Coalition 

    York and Penn Art Gallery Towson, MD, July/August 2022

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2021 

• "We Belong Here:  Reclaiming Space Through Art" curated by Justice Arts Coalition 

     Rhizome Gallery, Takoma Park, MD, November 2021
 

• "Incarceration and Creation: Art as a Human Need," curated by Justice Arts Coalition 

     Sandy Springs Museum, MD Sept 17, 2021-November 17, 2021
 

• TOUR: Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration, curated by Nicole Fleetwood
  University of Alabama, Birmingham, Sept. 17 through Dec. 11, 2021.  
   

2020

• ​Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration, curated by Nicole Fleetwood 

     MOMA PS1, Long Island City, NY, Sept 2020-April 2021
 

•  Beyond the Bars, Strategies for Challenging a Carceral Society

      Columbia University School of Social Work, New York City, March 2020

 

• "Iron Bars," curated by Wendy Jason, President Lincoln's Cottage, Wash D.C.,
  January 2020.  "The compassionate commitment to self-expression that these brave artists have shown through creating art in and around the US carceral system unites
  us all and allows us to understand that transformation happens from within.     

     Review post on Justice Arts Coalition, (JAC)

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2019 

• Art in Action, Flagstaff, AZ

• Rhizome Gallery, Takoma Park, MD

• Choir for Peace, Homer, Alaska

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2018 

• Social Just Lab, Basel Miami Art Show 2018,  Miami Beach, FL

• "From the Inside," The Confined Arts, curated by Isaac Scott, Columbia University, NYC

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