Free exhibition and tribute gathering the paintings of John O'Connell, who taught at the University of Utah, at the Alvin Gittins Gallery.
John O'Connell is the subject of an exhibition and tribute at the Alvin Gittins Gallery from October 8 to 28, 2026. The show gathers his paintings so family, friends, and the wider community can share memories and reflect on his life and practice. O'Connell died on June 14, 2026, at age 64.
He came to painting late and spent the rest of his life making up for lost time. Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, he grew up in a large Irish neighborhood in the urban Northeast and produced his first painting at 28, after stints in engineering school, construction, and music. He studied at the Massachusetts College of Art and the University of Connecticut, later taught at Middle Tennessee State University, and eventually joined the University of Utah faculty, where he was associate professor of Painting and Drawing for more than two decades.
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His work layered organic forms, wove in industrial textures and decomposition, and crafted massive, artificially aged, archaeological structures. The exhibition brings those paintings together in one space, and there's a reception on Thursday, October 22, from 4:30 to 7 PM for people to gather and talk about him. The gallery is in the Fine Arts and Media Arts Building at the University of Utah, 375 S. 1500 East in Salt Lake City. Admission is free.
Date
21 October – 28 October
Price
Free
Recommended Age
+14 years
