Edward “Ed” Thomas Brennan (b.1941-2025) [RA 1973-2011, EM RA 2011-2019, EM NRA 2019]

First name: Edward “Ed” ;
Middle name: Thomas ;
Last name: Brennan ;

Member: Emeritus non-resident artist member ; 
Begin: 1973 ;
End: 2025 ;

Biography:

Birth: April 17, 1941
Death: December, 2025

Ed joined Salmagundi in December 1973 as a Resident Artist Member, beginning a lifelong commitment to the Club’s mission and community. Over the years, he served with distinction in many roles: Recording Secretary (1975–1976), Chairman of the House Committee, First Vice President, Chair of the Admissions Committee, and member of the Nominating Committee. He was elected President from 1987 to 1990, later serving as Chairman of the Board. In recognition of his extraordinary service, the Board voted in 2011 to honor him as Chairman of the Board Emeritus.

His dedication was inseparable from his artistry. Working in watercolor, acrylics, and monoprints, Ed achieved wide recognition, earning numerous awards and exhibiting his work both nationally and internationally. At Salmagundi, he generously shared his mastery as a watercolor instructor, inspiring generations of artists with his skill and passion for the medium. His achievements were celebrated with many honors, including the Elizabeth K. Ellis Artist Fellowship in 2019 for his painting Central Park Flurries. Most notably, in 1991 he was awarded the Salmagundi Medal of Honor, a testament to his enduring impact on the Club and the broader art community.

Beyond Salmagundi Club, Ed was active in the Artist Fellowship of New York, the Hawaii Watercolor Society, Windward Artist Guild, Honolulu Printmakers, and the Association of Hawaiian Artists. His paintings are held in private collections worldwide, and he has maintained studios in New York City, New Jersey, and Hawaii, at various times in his life.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Ed lived in New York City for over 40 years and in Guttenberg, NJ for a decade before moving with his wife to Kaneohe, Hawaii in 2019. There, he continued to paint, inspired by the beauty of the Hawaiian landscape.

Artworks: