Hello,

About Me (she/they)
Cara is a queer interdisciplinary artist and educator exploring the intersections of nature, mental health, and the sublime in everyday life. Working across printmaking, photography, ceramics, and performance, O'Connor draws on a BA in Comparative Religious Studies from Harvard University and is currently pursuing an MFA in Print Media at Cranbrook Academy of Art. With a background in outdoor and art education, they are passionate about fostering inclusive communities and expanding access to the arts. Originally from Texas, O'Connor now lives in Ferndale, Michigan, with their partner and dog, Nala.

About My Practice
My work explores how humans seek meaning through personal experiences and collective narratives, drawing from themes of grief, longing, mental health, and the tension between individual realities and societal constructs. As a printmaker, I use layered processes to reflect how we process and reinterpret the world, often combining print and photography to examine fragmented memories and the elusive nature of the present moment. Influenced by thinkers like T. M. Lehrmann and Elyn Saks, I create spaces for reflection on connection, isolation, and the myths of shared human experience, inviting viewers to question how personal and collective realities intersect.