Welcome to the Show! Meet Seamus Liam O’Brien
Mr. O’Brien spent his early years performing with his family in circuses across the United States, including the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Circus, and the Shrine Circus. When his parents retired from the ring and settled in Central Florida, Liam continued performing—this time as a costumed character at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.
For over fifteen years, Liam worked as a scenic artist, painting sets and backdrops for amusement parks, retail spaces, and stage productions. Highlights include the M&M Museum in Las Vegas, the Jurassic Park River Ride at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure in Orlando, FL and Universal Studios Japan, and Potbelly Sandwich Shop locations across the United States.
In 2006, Liam moved to New York City, where he became a production manager for renowned fine artists such as Takashi Murakami, Michael Riedel, and Mickalene Thomas. The artworks he helped produce with these artists are now part of major art collections and have been exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide.
By 2013, Liam had turned his attention to sign painting, starting in his Brooklyn neighborhood with just a few fliers and a lot of determination. What began as a local project grew into a thriving practice, taking him across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, NY, painting signs and murals for businesses of all sizes. Notable clients include the Guggenheim Museum, The Brooklyn Museum, Sweetgreen, Gagosian Gallery, and the David Zwirner Gallery.
Like many, the COVID years brought big changes, and in 2021, Liam and his family moved to Minneapolis, MN, to begin a new chapter. He continued his work in the arts as a scenic artist and project manager at Target Corp. Workshop, creating sets for product photo shoots, videos, and commercial ad campaigns. Alongside this, he continued to paint signs and murals for local businesses, particularly public schools throughout the city. But most notably, it was also around this time that he developed a peculiar habit of painting rubber ducks onto thrift store paintings (see below).
Today, Liam lives and works in St. Paul, MN, with his wife and young daughter. He enjoys movies, fixing things, and, of course, painting and drawing.
Why are rubber ducks mysteriously appearing on Twin Cities thrift store artworks? Click image above for link to page. ⬆︎⬆︎
"Brooklyn artist Seamus Liam O'Brien returns to the circus with mesmerizing swirls and a pink elephant!"
Parents - James Terence O'Brien + Gloria Camille O'Brien
My father discovered the art of juggling during his high school years and this passion lead him to begin performing on stage and vaudeville throughout the United States. He attended universities in Germany and France, and did a seasoned tour as the "Great Boston" for the illustrious Duffy Circus in Ireland.
Terry and Camille met in Washington D.C. at the National Security Agency where they both worked as linguists and cryptologists. The two did the improbable and ran away with the circus, spending fifteen years traveling around North America while raising a family. They performed on such shows as Clyde Beatty/Cole Bros. Circus, King Bros. Circus, Circo Atayde Mexico, Hanneford Circus, Carson and Barnes Circus, Nordmark Circus, TNT Circus, as well as on various television programs including the Mike Douglas Show, Circus (Canada), and the Bozo Show. In 2004, Terry wrote a book about his adventures on the circus entitled, Close but no cigar - A Street Urchins Tale.
This clip features the great Terry O'Brien and Company (Terry and Camille O'Brien) performing live on the hit Canadian television series 'Circus' (1978-1985). Starring singers Cal Dodd and Sharise Lawrence, this series offered the Big Top on the small screen, a weekly half hour of circus acts and musical entertainment.
Let’s Connect!
Interested in some artwork? Need a duck painting? What about a mural? Let’s collaborate! Reach out to me on my CONTACTS PAGE.