Stephen O'Donnell

Russo Lee Gallery is pleased to present 95 / 25: A Thirtieth Anniversary Exhibition by Stephen O’Donnell. Marking a significant milestone in his career, O’Donnell reflects on 30 years since he began showing his work professionally. Drawing inspiration from earlier works, this exhibition features new pieces that speak to the core themes that have defined his practice. O’Donnell’s paintings often combine humor, beauty, a keen eye for detail, and thoughtful exploration of complex themes such as gender identity. This exhibition offers an opportunity to witness the artist’s ongoing evolution, as well as his skillful ability to bring joy to the viewer.

As a painter, Stephen O’Donnell is self-taught. His education in art came by way of his love of history and biography. O’Donnell has shown his work throughout the Pacific Northwest and in Atlanta, GA in numerous solo exhibitions since 1995, as well as in select group exhibitions in California, Florida, Georgia, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Among other awards, in 2020, O’Donnell won First Prize at The #dessinemoiversailles Competition (for Les Perruches), Château de Versailles, Versailles, France, and in 2011 he was the Grand Prize Winner in The Power of Self Competition, Artists Wanted, New York, NY. His work is included in the collections of the Portland Art Museum, Portland OR; the Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach CA; the Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Salem OR; the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art, New York, NY; and Portland Community College, Portable Works Collection, Portland OR. He has earned critical commentary from ArtsATL and Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Oregon ArtsWatch, Vanguard Seattle, and the Seattle Times.

95 / 25: A Thirtieth Anniversary Exhibition

April 3 – 26, 2025

Press Release