O’Neil’s method of creating his works is similar to that of musicians sampling sounds to create their compositions. O’Neil appropriates images, often times using amateur photos or images from instruction manuals as sources. The reproduced image is then washed with new color to create monochrome layers juxtaposed with other images. O’Neil’s method is reflected in the title of his first solo exhibit at K&W, “Collect. Consume. Rebuild.” These colorful and emotional paintings have a storytelling quality that relates a narrative, yet still remain poetic, allowing the viewer to determine their interpretation.
'Collect. Consume. Rebuild' opens May 8 at Kelly & Weber Fine Art.