Hello! I’m Mike O’Brien—an artist + designer who loves folk, lowbrow and outsider art. I live in Washington D.C. and have my workspace at 52 O Street Studios.
I make painting & serigraphs inspired by tattoo designs, comics, stickers, animations, posters and more.
I’m a designer and web developer too. I build maps to identify excessive polluters, threatened communities, and the impacts of climate change.
Alongside my art + design practice, I run Thundershark Gallery with my wife Rachel Wallach. We curate exhibitions and other creative events for DC-area artists.
I also teach! You can find my digital drawing workshops through Smithsonian Associates and my silkscreen printing classes at Washington Studio School.
My internet handle is @redtablepress because the first table I built to print on was red.
I’m guided by curiosity and always exploring opportunities. Reach out if you want to chat about something!
AwarDs
Work
Artist + Designer, Mike O. (2020-present)
Instructor, Smithsonian Associates (2024-present)
Instructor, Washington Studio School (2026 - present)
Programming Director, 52 O Street Studios (2024-present)
Communications Director, AIGA DC (2020-2022)
Marketing Director, DC Design Week (2017-2018)
Creative Director, ACD, Designer, ISL (2011-2019)
Showings
2026(my) favorite @ Gallery Y
MONSTERS! @ Thundershark Gallery
Secret Walls @ GLOW Block Party
BLOOM by Usan Usan
Fighting Shadows: Round 2 by Trei Ramsey
2025Umbrella Art Fair by Usan Usan
Everything is Everything Transformer’s 21st Annual Exhibition & Benefit Auction
Room Service @ Union Market by D.C. Walls
Highly Animated @ The Beachkraft Gallery
ALT-DC: Video + Stills @ Dupont Underground
Collab @ Touchstone Gallery
Essence: The Characteristics That Define Us @ Athenaeum Gallery
Legends of the Small by Death by Narwhals
BLOOM by Usan Usan
Fighting Shadows by Trei Ramsey
2024Transcendence Transformer’s 20th Annual Exhibition & Benefit Auction
SQFT by JAB Arts & Usan Usan
Small & Strange by Death by Narwhals
House Warming @ Washington Studio School
Figure @ Touchstone Gallery
2023Return to the Land of Skulls @ The Midlands
A Farewell to Charms by Charlie Visconage
DC Conspiracy Group Show @ Dwightmess
Here We Show Again @ Strathmore Mansion
2022Greatest HITS @ Hole in the Sky
2019DC Lowbrow Invitational @ The Cheshire
THUNDERSHARK @ Hole in the Sky + Homme Gallery
2011 – 2018Caffeinated Group Art Exhibition @ Studio SoHy (2018)
The National Poster Retrospecticus @ Dupont Underground (2017)
NeonCat Pop-Up Show #1 @ Cherry Blossom Creative (2017)
For the Love of Br!ck Group Art Show @ The Fridge (2015)
The National Poster Retrospecticus @ Hole in the Sky (2014)
ARTSHOWS 01-17 @ Hole in the Sky (2013-2018)
Wheatpastes on DC utility boxes (2011-2018)
Curations
2025Fragments @ Thundershark Gallery
Torture Garden @ Thundershark Gallery
2024The Star Family Reunion @ Thundershark Gallery
What Lives Here Now? @ Thundershark Gallery
Calls: A Game of Telephone @ Thundershark Gallery
2023Return to the Land of Skulls @ The Midlands
Congresswoman Norton's Congressional Art Committee
2022Land of Skulls @ The Midlands
Spring Cleaning @ The REACH at the Kennedy Center
Greatest HITS Artshow @ Hole in the Sky
2013 - 2019DC Lowbrow Invitational @ The Cheshire (2019)
ARTSHOWS 01-17 @ Hole in the Sky (2013-2019)
Adult Pinewood Derby @ the Wonderbox (2016)
Call + Response IV @ Hole in the Sky (2014)
