Cait O’Brien’s journey as an artist and educator began in 2008, when she first encountered Van Gogh’s Starry Night at The Yale University Art Gallery. Captivated by its bold colors and quiet mystery, she knew she wanted to become both an artist and an educator who would inspire others through visual storytelling.

Today, Cait teaches elementary art, specializing in differentiated curriculum focused on living, contemporary artists. Her lessons, aligned with the National Core Art Standards, explore contemporary themes with a strong emphasis on diversity, inclusion, and authentic cultural representation. She prioritizes integrated classrooms where all students see their identities reflected in the art they create and study.

As an artist, Cait’s personal work examines the historical legacy of hysteria and its impact on her identity as a contemporary woman. Drawing from her experiences as a queer, neurodivergent, cis woman in suburban America, her art explores themes of mental health, gender, and cultural memory through a modern lens.