Maureen O'Brien, known for Minnesota wildlife paintings, has died at 78
Born in St. Paul, O'Brien was self-taught and started with drawing caricatures of children.
July 20, 2021 — 7:35pm
Text size
Copy shortlink:
Bemidji artist Maureen O'Brien was the kind of person who would go above and beyond for her community. When commissioned to paint a mural at the former M Health Fairview children's wing, where children would go for chemotherapy, she painted all kinds of animals — bears, raccoons, ducks, loons and butterflies. But even after the mural was finished, O'Brien would go to the hospital periodically and add new animals so the children who were there long-term would have something new to find.