My name is Ryan O’Connor, and I create paintings that sit at the meeting point of imagination and lived experience. For me, art isn’t just about what the eye can see — it’s about what the heart carries or longs for. Every canvas I paint begins as an attempt to make sense of the struggles, hopes, and beauty that weave through my own life.

I was born in New Zealand and have always been drawn to both the natural and the mechanical — the way a mountain range can feel like a cathedral, or how a machine can feel almost alive when designed with vision. My artwork reflects this fascination, often balancing human stories with sci-fi and surreal landscapes, reminding us that imagination can reveal truths which reality hides.

My paintings are deeply personal. They carry the imprint of moments when I’ve had to face fear, pain, or uncertainty and turn them into something hopeful. Whether it’s a balloon floating toward a storm, a city drenched in rain, or a figure enshrouded in light, each piece is a way of saying: even in the darkest seasons, there is resilience, there is beauty, and there is always another path forward.

What matters most to me is that my art resonates with the people who encounter it. Many who have stood before my work have told me it feels so real (even though I’m not a hyper-realist) because it’s a reminder that they’re not alone in their struggles, and that beauty can be drawn out of even the hardest places. That connection is why I paint, and why I continue to share my work with the world.

If you’ve ever been really worn down, traumatised, or hypervigilant then my artwork is for you – I can relate. Even if you find yourself returning to my art, drawn to something you can’t explain, I’m always looking for collectors to maintain my legacy here on Earth, someone to take a stand and remind themselves and others that “beauty matters”, and “healing is possible”.