poppy o’brien


works  
  1. 160423
  2. 291023
  3. 241023
  4. 021123
  5. 201123
  6. 240124
  7. encounter
  8. shift
  9. 190324
  10. 040924 vertical /horizontal
  11. 111024 interior/exterior
  12. 161124 contract/expand
  13. taplow


exhibitions / installations  
  1. UCA graduate exhibition
  2. departure lounge
  3. the little show
  4. three rooms
  5. third space
  6. host
  7. a night for
  8. the cost of opportunity
  9. 190324 (façade)
  10. 040924
  11. 111024
  12. 161124

artist statment —
info

Born and based in London, Poppy O’Brien (b. 1999) is an artist who works across painting, sculpture and photography. Studying at UCA Canterbury (2019-2023) and UAL Chelsea (2023-24), in 2024 she was the recipient of the Sir Frank Bowling Award. In 2025 she was a participant in the Turps Banana Residency Program 03. 




Read more →

instagram:
contact:

@poppyobrienstudio
poppyobrienstudio@gmail.com 





Born and based in London, Poppy O’Brien (b. 1999) is an artist who works across painting, sculpture and photography. Studying at UCA Canterbury (2019-2023) and UAL Chelsea (2023-24), in 2024 she was the recipient of the Sir Frank Bowling Award. In 2025 she was a participant in the Turps Banana Residency Program 03. 
Exploring urban environments and the architectures that populate them, her practice explores the dynamic relationship between light material and form.  Inspiration is drawn from  observations of the painterly correspondence between architecture and everyday phenomena such as light. 

Paintings unfold in series and are united by a meticulous painting process. Appearing deceptively simple at first, closer inspection of the painted surface reveals multilayered compositions that evoke a sense of luminosity and space. 

When installed, O’Brien considers works as components within an expanded frame of space, offering viewers a dynamic and fluid encounter with painted surfaces.







CV


Eduction

2024

MA Fine Art, Chelsea College of Arts, University for the Arts, London, UK

2023

BA Fine Art, University for the Creative Arts, Canterbury, UK

Residencies 

2025

Turps 03, Turps Banana, London

2024

Millbank Tower Podium Summer Residency, London 

Selected Group Exhbitions

2025 

Turps 03 : End of Residency Show, Turps Gallery, London

Conviction Fair , Hypha HQ, London

2024   

Third Space, London & Ljubljana

Everything Must Go, RCA X UAL,  London 

Host, St Saviours Church, Pimlico, London 

MA Graduate Show, UAL Chelsea, London

Annual Open, Southwark Park Gallery, London

2023    

The Graduate Show, UCA Canterbury

Through the Looking Glass, Mall Galleries, London

Annual Open, Southwark Park Gallery, London

Three Rooms, UAL Chelsea, London

Scholarships/Awards

2024

The Sir Frank Bowling Scholarship, MA Fine Art, Chelsea College of Arts, UAL 

Experience

2025

Gallery Assistant Intern, Bernard Jacobson Gallery 

2023

Graduate Lecturer, UCA Canterbury 

Art Archivist, Kent County Council

2022

Art Workshop Leader, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Essex