Boston’s public art scene has seen a tremendous boom as of late, from the Rose Kennedy Greenway to the steps of City Hall, and now a single painting has been chosen as the exemplification of the entire city.
On Tuesday, the Mayor’s office announced the winner of the Portrait of a City competition, put on in tandem with the Boston Art Commission. Adam O’Day’s work, dubbed Transit (as seen above) is what captured the imagination and encapsulated the spirit and pride of Boston more so than any other submission.
“Arts and culture has always been one of my administration’s top priorities,” said Mayor Walsh in a statement. “The purpose of this competition is to highlight and showcase the work of local artists, and all of their creations were great. These artists are making the City a vibrant and lively place to live.”
The competition was created back in March and semi-finalists were designated later in May. O’Day faced his fair share of stiff competition, going up against paintings of a snowy Copley Square and the Old Northern Avenue Bridge, as well as stirring photographs of both the Zakim and Charlestown bridges.
As you can see, O’Day’s vibrant painting is an aerial view of Back Bay’s cityscape, while the MBTA and Massachusetts Turnpike stream below.
So taken with O’Days portrayal of Boston is Mayor Walsh that his office will purchase 30 framed prints of Transit and give them as gifts to esteemed, out-of-town politicians, diplomats, distinguished guests and various officials.
“We had incredible submissions and great engagement throughout the Portrait of City competition. In his winning piece, Transit, Adam O’Day’s bright cityscape celebrates the vitality of contemporary life in Boston,” added Karin Goodfellow, Director of the Boston Art Commission. “We are truly excited that the Mayor will be representing the City of Boston to visiting dignitaries with an artwork by a local artist.”
O’Day graduated with a degree in Illustration and Graphic Design from the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University in 2005, and has since taken part in over 100 art shows.
To view the works O’Day was able to get the better of, you can check out the portrait gallery here. In the meantime you can let us know what you think of his portrait, and if it aptly captures the moxie of Boston, in the comments section below.
