Aerial shot of The Watermill Center in Water Mill, NY. Photo copyright Lovis Ostenrik.
Introduction
Brian O’Mahoney has over a decade of experience in audience engagement, digital accessibility, and strategic communications. Their approach to communications is message-driven, leveraging institutional resources and programs to reinforce an organization’s mission and brand values across all communications channels. Their practice focuses on developing simple and direct messaging paired with impactful graphic materials to verbally and visually engage audiences.
Work History
From 2016 to 2023, they operated as Communications Manager for The Watermill Center, an international artist residency program located in the heart of the Hamptons. While there, they coordinated all external communications, developed and implemented a brand style guide, organically grew their social media following by over 400%, and oversaw all public relations, including event promotion and coverage for The Center’s celebrated Annual Summer Benefit, cited as “where the creative illuminati of New York and beyond converge in a hedonistic celebration of performance art” (Office Magazine) and dubbed “the pinnacle of the Hamptons summer social scene” (Blackbook).
Additionally, while at The Center O’Mahoney developed a comprehensive communications strategy, leveraging year-round programming and fundraising campaigns to reinforce its identity as a laboratory for the arts and humanities, and as a space for artists to create and explore. The resulting strategy increased public awareness and understanding of The Center by framing all year-round activity around its core mission as an artist residency center. Toward the end of their engagement at The Center, O’Mahoney helped develop and lead initiatives on creating more inclusive and accessible communications and programs, focusing on visitor services and on-site guest experience for neurodiverse audiences.
In 2024, they joined the ACCESSforALL (AfA) as Communications Lead, working with co-founders Ava Locks and Elka Rifkin to develop a suite of disability-friendly visitor services offerings for businesses and professionals. Within their first year at AfA, they developed a comprehensive program of development services and staff training solutions that generate and refine new approaches to visitor services that are welcoming to all audiences, regardless of ability or background.
Robert Downey Jr. at The Watermill Center. Photo copyright Maria Baranova-Suzuki. 2017.
Craig Harris performing at The Watermill Center. Photo copyright Martyna Szczęsna. 2021.
Robert Wilson’s “Ubu” at The Watermill Center. Photo copyright Maria Baranova-Suzuki. 2023
Laurie Anderson performing at The Watermill Center. Photo copyright BFA. 2017.
In-House Public Relations
O’Mahoney’s background in public relations includes experience in event marketing, awareness campaigns, and relationship building. During their time at The Watermill Center, they managed all in-house media requests, managed external PR-firms, and organized interviews with key stake-holders within the organization. While at The Center, O’Mahoney developed a new program for journalist cultivation and engagement, leveraging pre-existing events and programs as opportunities for writers to experience a life in the day of an Artist-in-Residence at The Watermill Center.
Sample Press Releases
Obtained Press (linked to article)
ARTnews: At the Watermill Center’s Summer Party, Body-Testing Performance Art and a Bisected Cop Car Draw Crowds. 2023.
The Brooklyn Rail: Paul Thek: Interior / Landscape. 2021.
Cool Hunting: The Watermill Center’s Summer Benefit and Artist Residency. 2022.
Forbes: The Watermill Center Hosts Its Summer Benefit, Raises $1.7 Million. 2019.
Frieze: Christopher Knowles’s Playful Experiments. 2022.
Galerie: Robert Nava’s Whimsical Beasts Take Over The Watermill Center in the Hamptons. 2022.
Hypebeast: Regina José Galindo's Performative Ode in a Dismantled Cop Car at The Watermill Center. 2023.
The New York Times: Checking Out The Crowd. 2022.
Observer: A Perfect Storm of Art and Experimentation Descends on the Watermill Center. 2023.
Office: More Until There Is No More. 2019.
Surface: Mother Nature Crashed the Party at The Watermill Center’s Summer Benefit. 2023.
Vogue: Isabelle Huppert and Laurie Anderson Honored at the 24th Annual Watermill Center Summer Benefit. 2017.
Full List of Publications Includes: Architectural Digest, Artforum, Artnet News, ARTnews, The Art Newspaper, Artsy, Blackbook, Bloomberg, The Brooklyn Rail, Cool Hunting, Cultured Magazine, Forbes, Frieze, Galerie, Hamptons Magazine, Hypebeast, James Lane Post, Modern Luxury, The New York Times, Observer, Office Magazine, The Purist, Surface Magazine, Vogue, W Magazine, Wallpaper, The Wall Street Journal, Whitehot Magazine, Whitewall, and WWD.
Email Marketing Campaigns
O’Mahoney’s background in email marketing includes extensive experience in automated customer journeys, donor communications, fundraising campaigns, event marketing, program announcements, and weekly updates. Their presentational approach is designed to improve user experience and increase engagement, allowing readers to easily digest information and take the desired next steps through clear calls-to-action.
Sample Newsletters:
Document Design & Formatting
Brian O’Mahoney’s approach to graphic design and document formatting seeks to provide clear, calm, and easy experiences for the user. Understanding and utility are ensured through the use of simple and direct designs that prioritize hierarchy of information and a natural flow of information.
Recently, O’Mahoney has expanded their design skill-set to prioritize accessibility and equitable use. Their working knowledge of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and decade of experience in audience communications have resulted in a new approach to communications that are inclusive of disabled and neurodiverse audiences.
Sample Designs
Social Media Management
Brian O’Mahoney’s approach to social media is to leverage the platform to educate audiences on the organization's mission. Through sharing stories about daily activities within the institution, news on upcoming programs and events, reflections on the history and impact of the organization's work, or sharing trivia and answering frequently-asked-questions, O’Mahoney ensures an audience has the tools and information they need to engage with the brand, and understanding of the company’s core mission and values.
With a background in the fine arts, O’Mahoney brings a keen aesthetic sense to content design. Their focus is on strong visual branding, selecting simple and strong designs that are used to illustrate programs and initiatives. They have over ten years of experience working directly with photographers and videographers in content development.