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58
WHYTES
SINCE 1783
,
ES
SIN E 1783
91
Comhghall Casey (
b.
1976)
STILL LIFE
oil on canvas
titled on reverse
43¼ by 27.5in. (109.86 by 69.85cm)
From Omagh in Co.Tyrone, Comhghall Casey has been working full time as
an artist since graduating from art college in Belfast in 1998. Based in Dublin
since the year 2000, his work focuses on creating meticulous and sparse still
life studies as well as portraiture and life painting. He has exhibited at The
Royal Hibernian Academy,The Royal Ulster Academy,The Gorry Gallery,The
Solomon Gallery,The Emer Gallery and The Mullan Gallery. His works are in
many public and corporate collections including The Ulster Museum, Queen’s
University Belfast, Office of Public Works, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and
Axa Insurance.
€
2,000-
€
3,000 (£1,600-£2,400 approx)
92
Michael Canning (
b.
1971)
ASSEMBLY, 2008
oil and wax on canvas
signed, dated, numbered [VPII.08] and inscribed with title on reverse;
with exhibition label also on reverse
48 by 36in. (121.92 by 91.44cm)
Provenance:
Vangard Gallery, Cork;
Private Collection.
Exhibited:
‘Paintings and Drawings, Vangard Gallery, Cork, 15 February- 8 March
Michael Canning was born in Limerick in 1971. After studying at the Limerick
School of Art and Design he studied in Greece at the School of Fine Arts in
Athens 1992 to 1993, and in 1999 he received his Masters Degree in Fine Art
from the National College of Art & Design in Dublin.
Michael Canning’s paintings of hedgerow plants confront certain traditions
of northern European painting. Neither landscapes, nor still lifes, they convey
an atmospheric quality laden with spiritual undertones. Heavy mists shroud
the rolling hills of the Irish landscape which part only for the wild plants.The
plants are rendered directly from observation. Each paintings is built up in
layers, using oil paint and wax.They sometimes include the very substance
which the painting depicts; ground earth and ash. Michael finds the plants on
daily walks near his home in County Limerick.The names of the plants are not
important to him, many are known simply by their local names, some of
which are known to be poisons or remedies.The idea that these plants may
have healing or adverse properties interests Michael, but it is the not
knowing which offers which, that lends the paintings their air of mystery and
suspense.
Michael has exhibited extensively throughout Ireland and The UK. Including
group events with Jonathan Swift Gallery, Highlanes Gallery Drogheda, Eigse
International Arts Festival,Carlow, Boyle Arts Festival, Mermaid Arts Centre,
Crawford Municipal Gallery, Limerick City Gallery, Galway Arts Centre and
several RHA Annual exhibitions. His work is included in many private and
public collections including: AIB, McCann Erickson, AXA, Butler Gallery,
University of Limerick and OPW Ireland. He won the Hennessy Craig
Scholarship and Whyte’s Prize in 2003 & the Fergus O’Ryan Memorial Award
in 2006, all at the RHA, Dublin.
€
4,000-
€
6,000 (£3,200-£4,800 approx)