SwirlY HurlEY
art
PortFolio
About the artist and project
Swirly is the artist persona of Sean Hurley (b. 1997), working in multiple disciplines of pencil drawing, oil painting, film photography, and writing. Working in Austin, TX, she primarily studies at Atelier Dojo under Nate Seay and Pedro Carduso in 18th century École des Beaux Arts methods and charcoal drawing.
Before starting at the Atelier in 2025, Sean was mentored by a community of professional artists and self guided in her artistic practice. Thank you to Madeline Pearl Hurley, Lara Hurley, Monika Kupiec, Rafael Cabrera, Elina Prettyman, Kandice Pierce, Lindsay Lou Howard, Samuel Thomas, Coty Ferrante, Dr. Brianne Bilsky, LTC Yoonie Dunham, and many more for support over the years.
From 2019 to 2025 Sean was a Field Artillery Officer in the U.S. Army, exiting at the rank of Captain. Highlights of this career include breaking gender inclusion barriers when being the first woman assigned to her infantry unit, the first woman to win "Best By" team in 25th Infantry Division, her unit receiving the Knox Award for best Battery in the Army for work done in Indonesia in 2021, and, most of all, being trusted to lead Soldiers as a Platoon Leader and Commander. Over her time in service, Sean kept a sketch book and kept creating whenever she could. Through meeting and training with so many different people, she realized her love for portraiture.
Sean received her Bachelors of Science from the United States Military Academy in 2019. Her studies focused on sociological theories through media and film. In addition to academics, Sean lead organizations that brought cultural opportunities and excellence to the students and faculty.
As president of the Studio Arts Forum for four years, Sean helped secure funding, supplies, and events for cadets to have some education in the arts. Working with the Armed Services Arts Partnership and Arts in the Armed Forces, the forum connected the Academy both to the public and the veteran community at large through art. Through this position Sean was awarded the John Calabro Award for Excellence in the Arts multiple times for her work while a cadet and the Award for Leadership in 2019.
As president of the Margaret Corbin Forum, Sean was entrusted with the legacy and endowment left by the first class of women at the Academy in 1976. Started as an opportunity for the few women to meet and collectivize, the club in modern day pivoted to educating, empowering, and inspiring all gender inclusivity at the Academy. For her work in promoting gender inclusion, Sean received the Margaret Chase Smith Award for Leadership and was appointed as the 2019 Zingerle Lecture Series Fellow.
