ARTIST BIO
A bit about Girasol O'Neill
Girasol O’Neill is a traditional media artist and human rights activist based in the DC Metro area. He graduated from George Mason Univeristy in 2022 with a Bechelors of Fine Arts. Raised in the US since 4 years of age and identifying with the LGBT+ community, O’Neill’s work is heavily influenced by social and political themes. Emotional exchange between his pieces and viewers is central to his work practice, which he facilitates by fusing realistic forms with vibrant, dynamic compositions. He is currently directing and producing work for his grant project, titled Project Illumination, as a recipient of Arlington Commission of the Art's AWARE Grant for emerging minority artists.
CV
Small but mighty
EXHIBITIONS:
2022
Parenthood as Consumption, Gillespie Gallery, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia.
2021
Sleeping Beauty, Gillespie Gallery, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia.
Resilience Exhibition, virtual exhibit, curated between George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College, Virginia
2019
ArtFields Competition, Group exhibition at the TRAX Visual Art Center, Lake City South Carolina
2016
Glass Mind, Studio PAUSE, Arlington VA,
ArtFields Competition, Pirates TShirts Plus, Lake City, South Carolina
EXPERIENCE:
Muralist. BusBoys and Poets Restaurant, Arlington, Virginia
March 2021, Designed and painted a permanent 8ft x 3ft mural
Cook and Art Assistant, MusePaintbar, Fairfax, Virginia
May 2019 - March 2020, Assisted the leading artist in preparing for the painting lessons as well as helping individual guests one-on-one with painting, when needed.
Banner designer, Voices of Solidarity, Arlington, Virginia
Spring 2018
Commissioned by the Dream Project of Arlington to design a new banner for their annual spring concert.
Logo designer, “We Are All Arlington”, Arlington, Virginia
July 2016 - September 2016
Designed the official logo for Arlington Virginia’s celebration honoring 40 years of immigrant influence in the county
Freelance Work
Continuous, since 2014
Pet and family portraits in traditional media, along with personalized cakes and other baked goods for events
PROJECTS
2022
Project Illumination, Immigrant community-based project funded by Arlington Commission of the Art’s AWARE Grant.