Brendan McGillicuddy received a BFA in Sculpture from the Alberta College of Art, where he received several awards for his work, including the Board of Governor’s Award (2004) and the Innovative Projects Scholarship (2004). Following his undergraduate, McGillicuddy went on to pursue an MFA in Sculpture at Parsons, The New School For Design, in New York City. During this time he was recognized for his innovative work, receiving the Parson’s Honours Award (2006), the Chaim Gross Scholarship (2004), the Parsons Dean’s Scholarship (2004), as well as a nomination for the Joan Mitchel Grant (2005).
McGillicuddy has worked with several prominent artists in New York City in the early years of his career, fabricating and installing thirteen large-scale, site specific works, notably at The New School University, University of Washington, The Tate Liverpool, the NYC Fire Department, 1515 Broadway NYC and 14 Wall St. in New York City. As a result, he has developed an arsenal of skills and knowledge required to make site-specific sculpture in materials such as glass, metal, light and electronic media.
His work has been exhibited in New York, Chicago, Calgary and Edmonton, at galleries such as Exit Art Gallery (NYC), the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (NYC), the Heidi Cho Gallery (NYC), and The Manson (Chicago), among others. He has also received commissions via the The Edmonton Arts Council to create site specific work.