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.