EDUCATION­

 University of Virginia
1978-1982, BA in Biology

 Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts
1983-1986, studied Illustration

EXPERIENCE

2024
President of The American Society of Marine Artists

2011 to present
Adjunct faculty at the Maryland Institute College of Art

2003 to the present
Self-employed gallery artist in the maritime art field

1986 to 2003
Self-employed illustrator

I have worked with dozens of clients including National Geographic, Lockheed Martin, ExxonMobil, The Smithsonian, and The American Museum of Natural History.

I have written and illustrated fourteen children’s books for major publishers such as Penguin/Putnam and Henry Holt & Co. ­­

AWARDS

The Outstanding Service Award
The American Society of Marine Artists, 2020

The Schaefer Maritime Heritage Award
The Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport, in 2015

Award of Excellence
The Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport, in 2013

The Distinguished Service Award
The National Maritime Historical Society, in 2012

Museum Purchase Award
Mystic Seaport Museum, in 2010

Award of Excellence
The Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport, in 2003

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

The Maritime Art of Patrick O’Brien
The U.S. Naval Academy Museum, Annapolis, MD: 2010

Paintings by Patrick O’Brien
The Icon Gallery, Alexandria, VA: 2017

Space, Swords & Dinosaurs: The Creation of Art for Children's Books — The Artwork of Patrick O'Brien
The Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, MD: 2010

The Age of Sail: Artwork by Patrick O’Brien
The Annapolis Marine Art Gallery, Annapolis, MD: 2008

New York in the Age of Sail: Paintings by Patrick O’Brien
The Union League Club, New York, NY: 2008

The Civil War at Sea: Paintings by Patrick O’Brien
Skipjack Marine Art Gallery, Portsmouth, VA: 2007

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

A Painted Ship upon a Painted Ocean
King’s Road, London, UK; March, 2024

The Washington Invitational Marine Art Exhibition
The National Press Club, Washington DC: 2019 through 2024

The Annual Mystic International Marine Art Exhibition
Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT: 2003 through 2019

Modern Marine Masters
Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT: 2003 through 2019

The American Society of Marine Artists’ 40th Anniversary Invitational Exhibition
Principle Gallery, Charleston, SC: 2018

Maritime Paintings at Ocean House
Watch Hill, RI: 2018

A Gathering of Marine Masters
Art of the Sea Gallery, South Thomaston, ME: 2013

Faculty Exhibition
The Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD: 2013

The War of 1812; A Star-Spangled Nation: 2013-2014
The Buffalo History Museum, Buffalo, NY
The Detroit Public Library, Detroit, MI
The Connecticut River Museum, Essex, CT
Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT

American Society of Marine Artists 15th National Exhibition: 2011-2012
Cornell Museum of Art & American Culture, Delray Beach, FL
Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, AL,
Art Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi, TX
Museum of the Southwest, Midland, TX
Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay, OR
Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, Baltimore, MD

19th Annual Children’s Book Illustrators Show
Chemers Gallery, Orange County, CA: 2010