Sean O’Meallie is from New Orleans, LA. He studied art at the University of New Orleans. While there, he was assistant to the noted artist, Ida Kohlmeyer. Since 1977 he has resided in Colorado.
O’Meallie taught studio art at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs for nine years and for ten years was a toy inventor based out of New York, NY, creating toy concepts for the international marketplace.
O’Meallie’s sculptures have been exhibited and toured in the U.S. and Europe. His work is in the permanent collections of the Museum of Art & Design in New York, NY, The Decorative Arts Museum in Little Rock, AR, The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, and The Sangre de Cristo Arts Center in Pueblo, CO. His Cowboy Pajamas, a 20’ painted bronze sculpture of an abstract cowboy with its guns drawn, is located in downtown Denver, CO. In 2011, O’Meallie created The Manitou Chair Project, a half-mile long outdoor installation utilizing the people, townscape and possessions of the residents of Manitou Springs, CO. His work is included in the college text, Launching The Imagination.
O’Meallie’s work, usually painted wood, is noted for its visual and tactile allure, and multilayered content.
“In my work I usually draw on intellectual, visual and spatial opportunities presented by circumstance to communicate possibility. In this, I employ the semiotics of popular culture, human perception and habituation in self-conscious ways.”
“I make objects. They disappear. I make more objects.”
Exhibitions
2015 Middle Tennessee State University / Murfreesboro, TN
2014 Bourbon Street Productions / Colorado Springs, CO
2013 LeMieux Galleries / New Orleans, LA
2012 Modbo Gallery / Colorado Springs, CO
2011 Bourbon Street Productions / Colorado Springs, CO
2010 Colorado Springs Fine Art Center / Colorado Springs, CO
The Business of Art Center / Manitou Springs CO
2009 Estel Gallery / Nashville, TN
2008 LeMieux Galleries / New Orleans, LA
2007 Estel Gallery / Nashville, TN
2006 Sylvia Schmidt Gallery / New Orleans, LA
2005 Savageau Gallery / Denver, CO
2004 Sylvia Schmidt Gallery / New Orleans, LA
2003 Laughing Ladies / Salida, CO
2002 Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center / Pueblo, CO
1999 The Business of Art Center / Manitou Springs, CO
1996 Bedford Gallery, Fountain Valley School / Security, CO
1995 Thunderstruck Gallery / Colorado Springs, CO
2014
UCCS Gallery of Contemporary Art / Colorado Springs, CO
The Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities / Arvada, CO
2013
LeMieux Gallery / New Orleans, LA
Manitou Art Center / Manitou Springs, CO
2012
Sangre de Cristo Arts Center / Pueblo, CO
Southeastern Louisiana University / Hammond, LA
Cultureclash Gallery / Salida, CO
The Business of Art Center / Manitou Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center / Colorado Springs, CO
2011
The Chair Project / Manitou Springs
Estel Gallery / Nashville, TN
Art on the Streets / Colorado Springs, CO
Middle Tennessee State University / Murfreesboro, TN
2010
Foothills Art Center / Golden CO
2009
Foothills Art Center / Golden CO
Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region / Colorado Springs, CO
Sugarcube / Denver, CO
Cultureclash Gallery / Salida, CO
2008
The Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM
Savageau Gallery / Denver, CO
Bryan & Scott Jewelers / Colorado Springs, CO
2007
National Irish Craft Gallery / Kilkenny, Ireland
New Mexico State University / Las Cruces, NM
Vail Valley Music Festival / Vail, CO
Tri-Lakes Art Center / Palmer Lake, CO
2006
SOFA Chicago
SOFA New York
Estel Gallery / Nashville, TN
Cultureclash Gallery / Salida, CO
Pikes Peak Community College / Colorado Springs, CO
Mobilia Gallery / Cambridge, MA
Art Students League / Denver, CO
2005
Sylvia Schmidt Gallery / New Orleans, LA
Mobilia Gallery / Cambridge, MA
UCCS Gallery of Contemporary Art / Colorado Springs, CO
Foothills Art Center / Golden, CO
Colorado State Fair / Pueblo, CO
2004
Sylvia Schmidt Gallery / New Orleans, LA
ZIP 37, Denver, CO
The Knoxville Museum of Art / Knoxville, TN
Beth-El College of Nursing / Colorado Springs, CO
Smokebrush Foundation / Colorado Springs, CO
Art Students League / Denver, CO
Republic Plaza / Denver, CO
UCCS Gallery of Contemporary Art / Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center / Colorado Springs, CO
Bryan & Scott Jewelers / Colorado Springs, CO
Sangre De Cristo Arts and Conference Center / Pueblo, CO
2003
SOFA Chicago
ZIP 37 / Denver, CO
Savageau Gallery / Denver, CO
UCCS Gallery of Contemporary Art / Colorado Springs, CO
Smokebrush Foundation / Colorado Springs, CO
Bryan & Scott Jewelers / Colorado Springs, CO
Commonwheel Gallery / Manitou Springs, CO
The Rockford Art Museum / Rockford, IL
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center / Colorado Springs, CO
Tri-Lakes Arts Center / Palmer Lake, CO
Republic Plaza / Denver, CO
2002
SOFA Chicago
Savageau Gallery / Denver, CO
University of Southern Colorado / Pueblo, CO
Colorado Springs Airport / Colorado Springs, CO
UCCS Gallery of Contemporary Art / Colorado Springs, CO
Parkside Gallery / La Veta, CO
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center / Colorado Springs, CO
Foothills Art Center / Golden, CO
2001
Cheyenne Mountain High School / Colorado Springs, CO
Chaffee County Arts Center / Buena Vista, CO
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center / Colorado Springs, CO
UCCS Gallery of Contemporary Art / Colorado Springs, CO
2000
Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center / Pueblo, CO
Colorado State Fair / Pueblo, CO
The Business of Art Center / Manitou Springs, CO
Tri-Lakes Arts Center / Palmer Lake, CO
Western Colorado Center for the Arts / Grand Junction, CO
Arkansas Arts Center / Little Rock, AR
The Business of Art Center / Manitou Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center / Colorado Springs, CO
Tri-Lakes Arts Center / Palmer Lake, CO
Sophia Georg Gallery / Denver, CO
1999
UCCS Gallery of Contemporary Art / Colorado Springs, CO
Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center / Pueblo, CO
The Business of Art Center / Manitou Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center / Colorado Springs, CO
University of Colorado / Boulder, CO
1998
The Warehouse Gallery / Colorado Springs, CO
Sophia Georg Gallery / Denver, CO
Colorado Springs Airport / Colorado Springs, CO
Thunderstruck Gallery / Colorado Springs, CO
Chaffee County Arts Center / Buena Vista, CO
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center / Colorado Springs, CO
Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center / Pueblo, CO
1997
The Warehouse Gallery / Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado College Worner Center / Colorado Springs, CO
Harmony Park Gallery / Fort Collins, CO
Thunderstruck Gallery / Colorado Springs, CO
The Business of Art Center / Manitou Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center / Colorado Springs, CO
UCCS Gallery of Contemporary Art / Colorado Springs, CO
1996
OneWest Art Center / Fort Collins, CO
AAA Open Show / Denver, CO
UMC Fine Art Gallery / University of Colorado / Boulder, CO
Colorado State Fair / Pueblo, CO
Pikes Peak Urban League / Colorado Springs, CO
Smokebrush Center for the Arts / Colorado Springs, CO,
Pikes Peak Center / Colorado Springs, CO
1995
Roby Mill Gallery / Colorado Springs, CO
The Art Department / Denver, CO
UMC Fine Art Gallery / University of Colorado / Boulder, CO
The Bridge Gallery / Colorado Springs, CO
Chaffee County Arts Center / Buena Vista, CO
Smokebrush Center for the Arts / Colorado Springs, CO
UCCS Gallery of Contemporary Art / Colorado Springs, CO
Permanent Professors Gallery / USAFA / Colorado Springs, CO
1994
City Art Works / Colorado Springs, CO
The Business of Art Center / Manitou Springs, CO
Max Art / Colorado Springs, CO
Roby Mill Gallery / Colorado Springs, CO
Bibliography
ISBN 0-07-287061-3
Meilach, Dona Z., “Teapots: Makers & Collectors”, Schiffer Books, 2005, ISBN 0-7643-2214-1
The Crafts Council of Ireland Press, “Wild Geese: The Irish in America”, 2007
Arnest, Mark, “On The Map: Sean O’Meallie”, The Gazette, April 3, 2007
Flegg, Eleanor, “Return of the Wild Geese”, Irish Arts, Spring 2007
Black, Noel, “On the Island of Misfit Toys”, Bon Vivant, August, 2006
Arnest, Mark, “Fair Art Aims Higher”, The Gazette, August 26, 2005
Musick, Patricia, “American Beauty”, Orion Magazine, March/April, 2005
Rath, Von Martin, “Rivalitat”, Berufsziel Jobmagazin, January 2005, Koln, Germany
Hazelhurst, John, “Art Revival; Four Locals Who Color Our World”, The Colorado Spring Independent, Thursday, March 3, 2005
Delk, Laurie, Gallery Walk, The New Orleans Art Review, January/February 2005
MacCash, Doug, “Playing With Our Minds; Sean O’Meallie’s Toy-Like Sculptures Carry Adult Messages”, The New Orleans Times Picayune, Lagniappe, Friday, December 24, 2004
Hazelhurst, John, “Things of Beauty”, The Colorado Springs Independent, August 26, 2004
Arnest, Mark, “Less is More; ‘Colorado 2004’ Smaller, Simpler than Past Exhibits”, The Gazette, January 30, 2004
Arnest, Mark, “Figure, Form and Fun; Three Artists Ply Their Trade at Downtown Jewelry Shop”, The Gazette, August 8, 2003
Arnest, Mark, “Metal & More; Sangre de Cristo Celebrates 30 Years with Five Exhibits”, The Gazette, June 24, 2002.
Black, Noel, “I Dare You; Contemporary Art That Both Dazzles and Bends the Brain”, The Colorado Spring Independent, May 30, 2002
Sckolnik, David, “New Exhibits at the Sangre”, ArtsPeak, KCME Radio, May 25, 2002
Sckolnik, David, “To Buy or Not to Buy, A Roundtable Discussion with Artists Rodney Wood, Carl Reed and Sean O’Meallie”, ArtsPeak, KCME Radio, November 17, 2001
Thomas, Aaron, “CCCA Opens Season with Layers of Meaning and Memories”, The Chaffee County Times, May 31, 2001
Rootes, Dave, “Time (To) Travel; Buena Vista Art Exhibit Plays with Memories”, The Independent News Weekly, June 7, 2001
Branham & Young, “Time Travelers: The Twentieth Century Through Art”, Arkansas Art Center Press, 2000
Arnest, Mark, “Home is Where the Art Is”, The Gazette, August 27, 2000
Roche, Joanna, Ph.D., “Waltzing in 3-D”, Art Journal, (proposed)
Hazelhurst, John, “Masterpiece Poker”, The Independent News Weekly, March 30. 2000
Johnston, Katie, “The World of Sean O’Meallie; Sculptor’s Whimsical Art has Deeper Meaning”, The Gazette, December 19, 1999
Sckolnik, David, “An Interview with Artist Sean O’Meallie”, ArtsPeak, KCME Radio, JUNE 11, 1998
Porter, Mary Jean, “Sculpture Extravaganza”, The Pueblo Chieftain, January 18, 1998
Migash, George, “Disposable Kids”, The Independent News Weekly, December 17, 1997. (cover)
McBee, Jane, “Local Folk: Sean O’Meallie, The Independent News Weekly”, January 22, 1997
Metz, Judith, “No Two Alike”, Springs Style Magazine, 96-97, January 1,1996
Heath, Jennifer, “To Wit: The Art of Whimsy”, The Boulder Planet, September 25, 1996
Rosen, Steve, “On the Edge of Alternative Art”, The Denver Post, January 11, 1996
Eastburn, Kathryn, “Playing with the Prince of Darkness”, The Independent News Weekly, December 6, 1995
Asakawa, Gil, “The Art of Fun, Artist Sean O’Meallie Finds Happiness by Simply Playing Around”, The Gazette Telegraph, November 18, 1994
Frost, Hunter, “Catch A Rising Star”, Steppin’ Out Magazine, April 1,1994
Administrator, blog.csfineartscenter.org/2012/05/new-acquisition-sean-omeallies-monster.html / May 4, 2012
Wright, Bret, csindy.com/IndyBlog/archives/2012/01/11/whats-next-for-the-chair-project / January 11, 2012
Froyd, Susan, blogs.westword.com/showandtell/2011/12/fifteen_best_denver_art_moment.php / December 22, 2011
Wright, Bret, csindy.com/IndyBlog/archives/2011/10/31/chairs-and-stares-in-manitou-springs / October 31, 2011
Mobley-Martinez, Tracy, gazette.com/articles/project-127345-chair-manitou.html / October 26, 2011
Richardson, Craig, radiocoloradocollege.org/2011/10/the-manitou-chair-project / October 24, 2011
Froyd, Susan, blogs.westword.com/showandtell/2011/10/manitou_chair_project_manitou.php / October 10, 2011
St. Louis-Sanchez, Mariacoloradosprings.com/articles/chairs-12362-manitou-chair.html / October 9, 2011
Wright, Bret, csindy.com/coloradosprings/is-this-seat-taken/Content?oid=2382967 / October 6, 2011
Epstein, Warren, coloradosprings.com/articles/arts-12161-awards-dance.html / September 23, 2011
Epstein, Warren, gazette.com/articles/springs-111697-manitou-artist.html / January 24, 2011
Adelstein, Edie, csindy.com/coloradosprings/sean-omeallienew-work/Event?oid=2020919 / January 23, 2011
Mobley Martinez, Tracy, gazette.com/articles/sean-110773-inside-step.html / January 7, 2011
Arnest, Mark, gazette.com/articles/meallie-37123-cowboy-pajamas.html / June 8, 2010
Black, Noel, youtube.com/watch?v=_z2KFQdkwBg&feature=plcp / Radio Colorado College’s “The Big Something”, January 25, 2010
Black, Noel, radiocoloradocollege.org/2009/11/sean-omeallies-misfit-toys-part-2 / KRCC, The Big Something, November 30, 2009
Black, Noel, radiocoloradocollege.org/2009/11/toymaker-tell-all-part-1 / KRCC, The Big Something, November 25, 2009
Collections
Museum of Art & Design / New York, NY
The Kamm Museum of the Teapot / Charlotte, NC
The Museum of Decorative Arts, Arkansas Arts Center / Little Rock, AK
The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center / Colorado Springs, CO
The Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center / Pueblo, CO
Spanish Peaks Library / Walsenburg, CO
The State of Colorado
The City of Woodland Park, Colorado
The West Custer County Library / Westcliffe, CO
The City of Denver, Convention Center Hyatt / Denver, CO
Memorial Hospital Department of Oncology / Colorado Springs, CO
The Denver Public Library, Central Library / Denver, CO
Corporate Collections:
Chai, LLC / Denver, CO
Kaiser Permanente / Denver, CO
Fountain Valley School / Colorado Springs, CO
Hohner Veterinarkrankenhaus / Bad Kreuznach, Germany
The Denver Children’s Hospital / Denver, CO
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo / Colorado Springs, CO
DeCotiis Erhard / Colorado Springs, CO
Hoffman Reilly Pozner & Williamson / Denver, CO
Moye Giles O’Keefe Vermeire & Gorrell LLP / Denver, CO
Invesco Funds / Denver, CO
Baird Kurtz & Dobson / Colorado Springs, CO
HealthOne/HCA / Denver, CO
Ernst & Young / Denver, CO
W. G. Nielsen & Company / Denver, CO
G.E. Johnson Construction / Colorado Springs, CO
Isaacson Rosenbaum Woods & Levy / Denver, CO
Advanced Eye Care / Colorado Springs, CO