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Current Exhibitions Future Exhibitions Back to Exhibitions )
Michael O'Brien. Earl Campbell in Blanco, 1993. Epson archival inkjet print, 20 x 24 inches. Collection of the artist, Austin)
Michael O'Brien. Gator Queen, Shannon Perry, Anahuac, 1989. Epson archival inkjet print, 20 x 24 inches. Collection of the artist, Austin
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Michael O'Brien. Willie Nelson, photographed in Spicewood, Texas, 1989. Epson archival inkjet print, 20 x 24 inches. Collection of the artist, Austin
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Michael O'Brien. ZZ Top, Humble Texas, 1993. Epson archival inkjet print, 20 x 24 inches. Collection of the artist, Austin
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The Face of Texas: Photographs by Michael O'Brien April 14–June 5, 2005 
Selected from his book of the same title, The Face of Texas features over 30 portraits of famous—and not so famous—Texans, captured by artist Michael O'Brien between 1988 and 2002. These portraits represent a diverse array of native and adoptive Texans, including Willie Nelson, George W. Bush, Sissy Spacek and Tyler's own Earl Campbell. Other featured individuals are Shannon Perry (the 1989 Gatorfest Queen of Anahuac), musician Junior Brown, writer Larry McMurtry, golf pro Harvey Penick and Red Adair, the legendary oil-well firefighter. Visitors to the exhibition will be introduced to many other people not well known outside their respective hometowns. O'Brien celebrates Texans and Texas through his powerful images which capture the unique qualities of his subjects' personalities. After receiving a philosophy degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Michael O'Brien (who had put himself through school as a staff photographer for the campus newspaper, as well as with other freelance photography jobs) became a staff photographer for the Miami News. While there, he received two Robert F. Kennedy Journalism awards. His next professional move was to become a freelance magazine photographer working for such publications as National Geographic, Texas Monthly, Vanity Fair, Esquire, Life and the New York Times Sunday Magazine. O'Brien moved to New York City where he lived for 14 years. In 1985 he was sent to Austin (his first trip to Texas) to photograph Willie Nelson for Life magazine. After several return trips, including shooting an Austin cover story for National Geographic in 1990, the artist was drawn to Texas, and he moved to Austin with his wife Elizabeth and their three children in 1993. In the introduction to his book, O'Brien describes the impressions he formed during his frequent travels to Texas: "The sky was big, a crisp, hard blue with giant, dramatic clouds. The land was open and immense. The people were larger than life—friendly, informal and generous of spirit. They seemed present in a way that was foreign to New York, or elsewhere; and I, too, became grounded in the moment." This exhibition was organized by the Old Jail Art Center, Albany, Texas. |