Rising Stars: Meet Michael O’Reilly of Troy, Michigan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael O’Reilly.

Hi Michael, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have always been a creative person, beginning with an interest in poetry at a very young age. In my twenties I wrote a handful of screenplays, wrote for my college newspaper, and eventually earned my MFA in creative writing from the University of Utah. I have published journalism, poetry, literary criticism and short fiction and a nonfiction book about Utah Myths and Mysteries. I’m currently editing the first draft of a novel I started two years ago. I must do something creative every day. I have played drums in a number of punk rock bands, and have recorded a lot of stuff in the studio, which is always a very interesting and challenging part of the music process. About two years ago I, along with my teenage son, started learning the art of screen printing, and that has been a fun journey, both from a technical and creative standpoint.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Creating spheres from brass wire was my first big challenge, and it took me over 100 tries to get a perfectly round shape. My process does not involve wrapping the wire around an object, like a balloon. This is because the thin brass wire does not hold its shape when bent, the way copper wire does. The main challenge, for any artist, is navigating the business side of selling your work. Many artists do not like business, which is half the reason they become artists, but you have to get outside your comfort zone to make money from your work, and making money is, well, comforting. It makes you feel like you’re doing something right.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I did not get into visual art until age 40, when I started playing around with a pile of thin brass wire I found at a metal recycling center. That was ten years ago. Early on I developed my own technique for working with the delicate material, and I primarily focused on indoor hanging installations and lighting fixtures for homes, stores and resturants. I then applied the same methods to heavier MIG welding wire, and began powder coating the finished pieces, which involves spraying them with colored polymers and baking in a large oven. This adds incredible strength and durability to the piece and makes it possible to create outdoor displays that withstand harsh Michigan weather. My all-weather sculptures opened a whole new range of possibilities for public art installations, and that’s what I’ve been focused on the last few years.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
It’s not that hard to learn from failure. You figure out what you did wrong, and do it differently next time. Sure, it can be hard to stand back up after getting knocked down, but that’s more about resilience than learning. What’s hard is having success and then not being able to repeat it, and I do have advice about this. Don’t rest on your laurels, and never assume all the doors will swing wide open for you, just because a great thing worked in your favor. I have sold art to important collectors, and published books with big publishers, and it is still not easy to get people to pay attention to what I’m doing. After years of stressing out about selling art and make money from writing, I finally got a normal 9-5 job and I feel much better having a steady income. I may not have as much time to write or make art, but the tradeoff has been worth it. Do art for its own sake and to engage in the process honing your craft. There’s a difference between dedication and blind ambition. Be patient with yourself and focus on getting better at what you do. Good things will come, and the trick is keeping your radar tuned in, and filtering out the B.S. When you see an opportunity, or have a great idea, don’t be afraid to charge after it, and don’t be afraid to fail.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://brightwiredesigns.com
• Instagram: @michael_e_oreilly
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC780Ak2v5sbr5zE6R9nSHYw
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Michael-E.-OReilly/author/B0DHY6HP5Y?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true