Tomorrow afternoon, a new show of Paul O’Connor’s portraits of Taos Characters opens at the Bareiss Gallery.

Paul has been an ongoing, generous contributor to taoStyle from the very beginning. His sensitive and perceptive studies of artists in their element, have graced several profiles on this blog, including a couple of the new pieces hanging in this show; you saw them here first, and here they are again.

Taos Portraits, Paul’s award-winning book, edited by Bill Whaley, showcased a fraction of the portraits Paul began making over two decades ago. This project is never-ending, as Paul uncovers (and discovers) yet another character worthy of inclusion in his visual chronicle.

It’s rare, if ever, I cover one show so heavily, but Paul’s project is worthy of it. It’s an important, continuing document of the life and times of artists who continue to live and make important work here in Taos. Paul and his wife Tizia O’Connor are two of these artists themselves, living their lives as mindfully as the artists who compel Paul to keep photographing and capturing their essence through his camera’s lens.

The show will hang for one week only and if you are lucky enough to be in Taos this weekend, do go! There’s a lot going on in Taos this weekend – Lucinda Williams at Mesa Brewing and Dawes at the Solar Center tonight – but drop in to the Bareiss gallery tomorrow, hungover or not, for a visual treat. If you’re not here, rest assured I will continue to share Paul’s wonderful work here on the blog and do visit his site linked below this post for information on his book and more.

There are fifteen large pieces hanging in this show, the names of the subjects are listed below in alphabetical order. The one’s highlighted link back to related posts and/or posts where these images have been shared on taoStyle