Biography
Eamon Colman was born in Dublin in 1957. He is an elected member of Aosdána since 2007 in recognition of his major contribution to Irish culture. His professional career spans from 1979, having created nearly forty solo exhibitions presented nationally and internationally. In 1997, he was invited to host a major mid-term retrospective exhibition of his work entitled ‘Post Cards Home’ at the Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin at the age of 39 years. This was accompanied by a monograph on his work by writer and art critic Brian Mc Avera entitled ‘Dreams from The Lion’s Head, The Work of Eamon Colman’ published by Four Fields Press. A 25-year retrospective of his work is featured in a substantial publication by Gandon Editions, Kinsale: ‘Profile 25 – Eamon Colman’ (2006). In 1989, he won the First Prize Painting Award in EVA International; in 2001 First Prize Painting Award in Eigse, Carlow Arts Festival; in 2002, he was the first Irish artist to be awarded Full Fellowship Award from the Vermont Studio Centre, USA; in 2005, he won a CCAT Interreg Major Award for touring an exhibition in Wales, UK and in 2018 he was awarded a Culture Ireland GB18 Award. His work has been included in exhibitions representing contemporary Irish art in Brussels, Denmark, France, Spain, UK, Hong Kong, Canada and USA. His work can be viewed in his representative gallery: Solomon Fine Art, Balfe Street, Dublin 2.
CurriculumVitae
| Chronology | |
|---|---|
| 1957 | Born Dublin |
| 1993-1995 | Chairperson, The Artist Association of Ireland |
| 1993-1996 | Board Member of The Sculptors Society of Ireland |
| 1995-2000 | President, The European Council of Artists |
| 2000-2004 | Board Member of The Butler Gallery Kilkenny |
| 2007 | Elected Member of Aosdána |
| Solo Exhibitions | |
|---|---|
| 2020 | The Width of Yourself, Solomon Fine Art, Dublin |
| 2019 | The Width of Yourself, Solas Art Gallery, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim (invited) |
| 2019 | Double Vision, Eamon Colman and Blaise Smith, Kilkenny Arts Festival (two-person exhibition) |
| 2018 | Thaw, Oriel Q (Queens Hall Gallery), Narberth, Wales, UK (part of Culture Ireland GB18 programme) |
| 2018 | Mark Making, Eamon Colman and Gary Robinson, Claremorris Gallery, Co. Mayo (two-person exhibition) |
| 2017 | Thinking-In-Movement, Stern Studio Gallery, Vienna, Austria |
| 2015 | Walking at three miles per hour, Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin, 19th July through to 30th August |
| 2014 | Panorama: A Review, Strule Arts Centre, Omagh, Co. Tyrone |
| 2014 | Scattered Showers, Christchurch Gallery, Triskel Arts Center, Cork |
| 2012 | There is no season for margins, Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin |
| 2011 | Monument, Stern Studio Gallery, Vienna, Austria, invited |
| 2010 | Before the dark gets stronger than the light, RUA RED, South Dublin Arts Centre, Tallaght, Dublin 24 – invited |
| 2010 | What is real or actual, everything or nothing, Oriel Queens Hall Gallery, Narberth, South Wales |
| 2008 | Remnant, Cecille R. Hunt Gallery, Webster University, St Louis, USA |
| 2008 | Vantage, Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin – catalogue |
| 2007 | Breath of the River, Galeri Caernarfon Cyf, Wales |
| 2006 | Between Bog and a Sagging Wall, Vangard Gallery, Cork |
| 2006 | Knot of Souls, South Tipperary Arts Center, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary |
| 2006 | Salt River, St. David’s University, Lampeter, Wales |
| 2006 | Salt River, Oriel Queens Hall Gallery, Wales |
| 2006 | Salt River, Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin |
| 2004 | Africa 22º – 35º S, Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin (limited edition artist’s book) |
| 2002 | Walking Vermont, Vermont Studio Centre USA (catalogue) |
| 2002 | Vangard Gallery, Cork |
| 2000 | Rain on Water, Rubicon Gallery, Dublin |
| 1999 | Frederickshaven, Denmark |
| 1998 | Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Palais des Congres, Lorient France |
| 1998 | River Walk, Vangard Gallery, Cork |
| 1997 | Post Cards Home, R H A Gallagher Gallery, Dublin (monograph) |
| 1996 | Digging for Pearls, Rubicon Gallery Dublin |
| 1995 | Digging for Pearls, Driochead Arts Centre, Drogheda |
| 1994 | Home of the Snake King, Rubicon Gallery, Dublin |
| 1992 | Islands, Rubicon Gallery, Dublin |
| 1991 | One man show, Sligo Arts Week, Sligo |
| 1990 | India, Rubicon Gallery, Dublin |
| 1990 | Dreams from the Lions Head, Rubicon Gallery Dublin |
| 1998 | Solo Exhibition Monaghan County Museum |
| 1984 | Grafton Gallery, Dublin |
| 1982 | Tulfarris Gallery, Wicklow |
| 1980 | Tulfarris Gallery, Wicklow |
| Selected Group Exhibitions | |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Solomon Fine Art, Dublin |
| 2019 | Solomon Fine Art, Dublin |
| 2019 | Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, RHA Gallery, Dublin |
| 2019 | VUE Irish Contemporary Art Fair, RHA Gallery, Dublin |
| 2019 | Nineteen Hundred & Nineteen, Hamilton Gallery, Sligo; Irish Consulate, New York, USA |
| 2019 | Boyle Arts Festival, Co. Roscommon |
| 2018 | Solomon Fine Art, Dublin |
| 2018 | Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, RHA Gallery, Dublin |
| 2018 | VUE Irish Contemporary Art Fair, RHA Gallery, Dublin |
| 2018 | Boyle Arts Festival, Co. Roscommon |
| 2016 | Catherine Hammond Gallery, West Cork (invited) |
| 2015 | Eigse Arts Festival, VISUAL, Carlow |
| 2015 | Boyle Arts Festival, Roscommon (invited) |
| 2015 | Impressions of WB Yeats, Hamilton Gallery, Sligo (invited) |
| 2014 | Hillsboro Fine Art, Christmas Exhibition 2014, Dublin |
| 2014 | VUE, Irish Contemporary Irish Art Fair, RHA Gallery, October 30th – Novemrber 2nd |
| 2014 | Arusha Gallery, Edinburgh, Mid Summers Exhibtion |
| 2013 | VUE, Irish Contemporary Irish Art Fair, RHA Gallery |
| 2102 | The Good Children Gallery, New Orleans, USA (three person exhibition) |
| 2011 | RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin – invited |
| 2011 | Boyle Arts Festival, Co. Roscommon – invited |
| 2010 | Kilkenny Arts Festival – strand 2, invited |
| 2010 | Boyle Arts Festival (invited) |
| 2009 | Fís, invited curator NOVAS Liverpool, UK |
| 2008 | Fís, invited artist – part of Liverpool Capital of Culture, UK |
| 2007 | Colour Fields, Draíocht Arts Center, Dublin (invited) |
| 2007 | Nicholas Gallery, Belfast (invited, catalogue) |
| 2007 | RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin |
| 2007 | Art Miami, Hillsboro Fine Art, USA |
| 2006 | RHA Banquet Exhibition (invited) |
| 2005 | Eigse, Carlow |
| 2005 | RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin |
| 2005 | Boyle Arts Festival |
| 2005 | Wexford Arts Festival |
| 2005 | Kilcock Art Gallery |
| 2005 | Nicholas Art Gallery, Belfast |
| 2005 | Amber Arts Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland |
| 2004 | Eigse, Carlow |
| 2004 | RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin |
| 2004 | Irish Art, Angera Italy, to coincide with Irish Presidency |
| 2004 | Grand Gala, RHA Gallagher Gallery, Dublin |
| 2004 | Christmas Exhibition Hillsboro Fine Art |
| 2003 | RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin |
| 2003 | Greenacres Gallery, Wexford Opera Festival |
| 2003 | Eigse, Carlow |
| 2003 | Kilkenny Arts Festival, Fringe |
| 2002 | Eigse, Carlow |
| 2001 | Eigse, Carlow |
| 2000 | Aer Rianta, Dublin Airport |
| 1998 | Dye House Gallery, Waterford |
| 1997 | Small Works, Rubicon Gallery, Dublin |
| 1997 | Landscape & Recollection, The Ballinglen Experience, RHA Gallery |
| 1996 | Irish Art, Dillon Gallery , London |
| 1996 | RHA Annual Exhibition , Dublin |
| 1995 | Irish Art, Singapore |
| 1995 | Irish Life Mall, Dublin |
| 1995 | Civic Forum, Barcelona, Spain |
| 1995 | RHA Annual Exhibition Dublin |
| 1994 | Banquet, Exhibition , RHA Galllagher Gallery Dublin |
| 1994 | An t-Oireachtas, Guinness Hops Store, Dublin |
| 1994 | Iontas, Sligo Art Gallery & RHA Gallagher Gallery, Dublin |
| 1994 | Irish Artists, Donal / Maxwell, Philadelphia USA |
| 1993 | Monaghan Arts Centre, Monaghan Open |
| 1993 | Irish showcase Exhibition, Hong Kong |
| 1993 | Touchstone Gallery, Hong Kong |
| 1992 | RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin |
| 1992 | Contemporary Irish Art Society Exhibition, Hugh Lane Municipal |
| 1992 | Gallery of Modern Art, Dublin |
| 1991 | RHA annual Exhibition, Dublin |
| 1991 | RHA Banquet Exhibition, Dublin |
| 1991 | Boyle Arts Week, Roscommon |
| 1990 | Images from Ireland, Brussels |
| 1990 | European Artist of Promise, Brussels |
| 1990 | Echoes, Rue de Spa, Brussels |
| 1990 | RHA Banquet Exhibition, Dublin (invited) |
| 1988 | Claremorris Open, Mayo |
| 1988 | Celtic Vision, Bank of Ireland, Dublin |
| 1988 | An t-Oireachtas Exhibition, Dublin |
| 1988 | EV&A Limerick |
| 1988 | Open Circle, Scotland |
| 1988 | De Bello Gallery, Toronto, Ontario Canada |
| 1988 | Irish Art, Knapp gallery |
| 1987 | S.A.D.E 1987, Cork |
| 1986 | Independent Artist Guinness Hops Store , Dublin |
| 1986 | Eamon Colman / Nick Miller, Temple Bar Gallery, Dublin |
| 1986 | John Piper/ Eamon Colman, Winsor Arts Centre London |
| 1986 | Celtic Vision Mueseo Espanol de Arte Contemporaneo, Madrid, Spain |
| 1986 | Celtic Vision Palacio Municipal de Exosition, Spain |
| 1986 | Living Art Exhibition, Municipal Art Gallery, Dublin |
| 1984 | EV&A Limerick |
| 1982 | An t-Oireachtas Exhibition |
| Awards, Residencies & Commissions | |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Culture Ireland GB18 Award, Wales, UK |
| 2018 | Arts Act Grant, Kilkenny Co. Council |
| 2018 | Tyrone Guthrie Centre Residency awarded by Kilkenny Co. Council |
| 2017 | Culture Ireland Award, exhibition in Vienna, Austria |
| 2015 | Arts Act Award, Kilkenny Co. Council |
| 2009 | Ballyfermot Travellers Action Project – Book Project (residency) Traveller Peace Pin – Pavee Point commission to design a symbol pin against violence |
| 2007 | Dungarvan Community Hospital % for art commission (shortlisted) |
| 2007 | Cill Railaig Project (invited to work with Niall Nessans / Master Print maker), residency |
| 2007 | Ballinglen Art Foundation, residency, Co. Mayo |
| 2007 | Inish Lacken Project, Connemara, Co. Galway (residency) |
| 2007 | Uni Truck, Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| 2005 | CCAT Interreg Major Award for touring exhibition in Wales |
| 2004 | Arts Act Grant, Kilkenny County Council |
| 2002 | 1% For Art Commission, Roscommon Arts Centre |
| 2002 | Full Fellowship Award from The Vermont Studio Centre USA |
| 2001 | Eigse, First prize painting |
| 2001 | 1% For Art Commission, The Bell Centre, Darndale, Dublin |
| 2001 | The Euro World Project, First prize with Crumlin Children’s Hospital |
| 2000 | Art flight awarded by the Arts Council of Ireland |
| 1999 | Residency in Hirsholmene, awarded by the Danish Council of Artists |
| 1996 | Arts Council of Ireland, Materials Grant |
| 1995 | Arts Council of Ireland, Major Artist Bursary |
| 1993 | Arts Flight to New York, Arts Council & Aer Lingus |
| 1993 | S.I.P.T.U. Print Award |
| 1992 | Ballinglen Arts Foundation, residency Co. Mayo |
| 1992 | Set design for “After the Picnic” by Evelyn Waugh, Players Theatre Trinity Collage |
| 1991 | Irish Arts Council Materials Grant |
| 1989 | E.V.& A First Prize Painting |
| 1989 | Artist in Residence Tyrone Guthrie Centre |
| 1989 | Studio Exchange for one year to India, The Calcutta Artist Union, Nov.1989 – 1990 |
| 1987 | Purchase Award S.A.D.E |
| Teaching, Talks & Lectures | |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Guest speaker at the University College Cork Conferring Ceremony, 20 February |
| 2019 | Friends of IMMA , The Irish Museum of Modern Art, studio visit/talk, 28 September |
| 2019 | Behind the Surface, Kilkenny Arts Festival invited artists in conversation with Ann O’Sullivan, 12 August |
| 2018 | Claremorris Gallery, Co. Mayo, 15 July, gallery talk |
| 2018 | Oriel Q Gallery, Narberth, Wales, UK, 15 September, gallery talk |
| 2017 | Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, gallery talk |
| 2015 | The National Gallery of Ireland: Artist in residence Culture Night 18th September |
| 2015 | Voice Box, invited guest speaker at VISUAL, Carlow, August |
| 2015 | Walking at three miles per hour; artist talk Hillsboro Fine Art, August |
| 2015 | The National Gallery of Ireland: Celebrating 150 Years in 2014 50th Christmas Family Art Holiday, Invited artist “In conversation with Evelyn O’Rourke” RTE, 28th December |
| 2014 | The National Gallery of Ireland: Artist in Residence, Culture Night 19th September |
| 2014 | Oriel Queens Hall Gallery, Narberth, Wales, Artist Talk, 10th May 2014 |
| 2013 | Culture Night, Roundstone, Co. Galway, Artist Talk 22nd September |
| 2013 | The National Gallery of Ireland: Artist in Residence, Culture Night 21st September |
| 2013 | Panorama – Artist talk, Strule Arts Center, Omagh, Co. Tyrone |
| 2013 | Eamon Colman in conversation with Dr. David Brancaleone, Triskel |
| 2012 | The National Gallery of Ireland: Artists Face to Face, “Eamon Colman – The artist and his studio in Kilkenny” invited artist lecture, 16th September |
| 2012 | The National Gallery of Ireland: Drawing Day, invited host artist, 19th May |
| 2010 | Rua Red, Tallaght – artist in residence to co-inside with exhibition, November |
| 2010 | Eigse, Carlow – master class at Kilgreany House |
| 2009 | Tallaght Children’s Art Festival, working with local primary and secondary schools on a week long project |
| 2009 | Ballyfermot Travellers Action Project, Book Project linked with women’s and children’s groups in Ethiopia |
| 2008 | Webster University, St Louis USA – artist in residence to co-inside with exhibition |
| 2008 | Since 1998 The National Gallery of Ireland, Drawing Studies Programme – host artist |
| 2008 – 2009 | Summer Children’s Art Camp, Kilkenny |
| 2002 | Roscommon Arts Centre – working with local groups, secondary and primary schools, Tulsk Interpretative Centre, historians, County Museum, Poet – Nicholas Mc Laughlin towards hosting an exhibition in the Arts Centre as part of a 1% For Art Project |
| 2000 – 2003 | Mentor, Pavee Point Dublin, group and one on one teaching |
| 2001 | The Bell Centre, Darndale – workshops with local children and drug rehabiliation centre towards creating a public art sculpture for the centre |
| 1999 – 2000 | The Euro World Project with Crumlin Children’s Hospital – terminally ill ward (to design a flag and tea set design for the Millennium – first prize) |
| 1998 – 2003 | Brushstrokes Independent Art School, Dublin |
| 1996 – 2003 | Woman’s Refuge Bluebell, Dublin an I.M.M.A Outreach Programme |
| Bibliography |
|---|
| Newspaper & Magazine Reviews |
| John P. O’Sullivan, Irish Arts Review, 'The Width of Yourself’, p.86 - 89, Autumn Issue 2019 |
| Derek Culley, Art & Museum Magazine, ‘Eamon Colman - The Contemporary Art Market and Aesthetics, your journey’, p. 12 – 13, Spring issue 2019 |
| Niall MacMonagle, Vigil by Eamon Colman, The Sunday Independent, 13.9.15 ‘The Pleasue List’, Living magazine. |
| Brancaleone, David Dr., ‘Visual Conversation’ David Brancaleone Talks to Eamon Colman about his painting in Visual Artist Newsletter, March / April 2014 |
| John P. O’Sullivan, The Sunday Times, Culture Magazine |
| Leach Hughes, Cristín, “Eamon Colman – Scattered Showers”, The Sunday Times, Culture Magazine May 26, 2013 |
| Leach Hughes, Cristín, “Hue and cry over nature” The Sunday Times, Culture Magazine, November 28, 2010, p.14 |
| Mc Avera, Brian, “Between Abstaction and Landscape” Irish Arts Review, Spring 2007 – cover page & p.62 – 67 |
| Dunne, Aidan, “Salt River, Eamon Colman at Hillsboro Fine Art”, The Irish Times, April 27, p.14 |
| Felder, Tess, “The Constant Gardener”, The Kilkenny People, April 7 2006, p.27 |
| Ni Mhurchu, Aingeal, “Eamon Colman, Walking Vermont, Vangard Gallery” Irish Examiner, June 28, 2002 |
| Ewart, Mark, “Walking Vermont, by Eamon Colman”, Irish Times, June 25, 2002 |
| Clancy, Luke, “Eamon Colman, RHA Gallagher Gallery” Irish TImes, March 12, 1997 |
| Dunne, Aidan, “Homesick messages from the heart and soul”, Sunday Tribune, March, 1997, p.10 |
| Dunne, Aidan, “Critics Choice”, Sunday Tribune, Dec. 1995, p.8 |
| Dunne, Aidan, “Keeping the Art in the Family”, Sunday Tribune, Aug. 7, 1994, p.8 |
| Anon, “Displays In Philadelphia”, Philadelphia Enquirer, Oct. 20, 1994 |
| MacAvock, Desmond, “Eamon Colman (sic) at the Rubicon Gallery”, Irish Times, May 21, 1992, p.12 |
| Anon, “Byzantium”, Image Magazine, May 1992 |
| Anon, “In Memory of the Beekeeper’s Son”, In Dublin, May 26, 1992 |
| Anon, “Exhibitions, Exhibitions and Society”, The Phoenix, May 15, 1992 |
| Dunne, Aidan, “Bare Male Images in Large Colour, Eamon Colman, Rubicon Gallery”, Sunday Tribune, May 15, 1992 |
| MacNamidhe, Margaret, “Irish Artists Abroad”, in Protfolio, Gandon Press, Dublin, 1991 |
| MacAvock, Desmond, “Eamon Colman At the Rubicon Gallery”, Irish TImes, June 1990 |
| Anon, “Colman Wins EV&A” Cork Examiner, Oct. 16 1988 |
| Fallon, Brian, “Second SADE at Cork”, Irish TImes, July 8, 1987 |
| McCrum, Sean, “Sitting Up at the Bar”, Irish Times, Sept. 3, 1986 |
| Dunne, Aidan, “Irish Art”, Sunday Tribune, June 1986 |
| Cooke, Harriet, “Four painters at the Arts Club”, Irish Times, Oct. 16, 1985, p.12 |
| Cooke, Harriet, “Two Artists at the Grafton Gallery”, Irish Times, June 1985 |
| Cooke, Harriet, “Christmas Show at the Arts Club”, Irish Times, Dec. 1982 |
| Glendon, Paddy, “Round and About the Galleries”, Irish Independent, May 15, 1982 |
| Fallon,Brian, “Eamon Colman At the Tulfarris Gallery”, Irish TImes, May 2, 1982, p.12 |
| Byrne, P.F. “Excellent First Show”, Irish Press, Nov. 1981 |
| Anon, “Like Father, Like Son” in Evening Herald, Nov. 1981, p.10 |
| Glendon, Patrick, “Artist Eamon a Man to Watch” in Irish Press, Nov. 1981 |
| Publications |
| Dr. Iain Biggs, ‘Painting Place’ in 'The Width of Yourself’ artist catalogue published by Solomon Fine Art 2019 |
| Terry Sweeney, Eamon Colman – Panorama, 2013, Strule Arts Center, Omagh, Northern Ireland |
| Robert O’Byrne, Dictionary of Living Irish Artists, 2010, Plurabelle Publishing, p.56 & 57ISBN 978-0-9563011-0-9 |
| Daniel Mc Grath, Remnant, 2008, Eamon Colman at the Cecille R. Hunt Gallery, Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri (Webster University Press) |
| John O Reagan (ed.), Profile 25 – Eamon Colman, 2006, (Gandon Editions, Kinsale) ISBN 0948037 350 |
| McAvera, Brian, Africa 22º – 35º S, 2004, Cassagh Press, ISBN 0-9547955-0-4 |
| McLaughlin, Nicholas, Artist Catalogue, Walking Vermont, Recent Works 2002 |
| Irish Monograph # 1 McAvera, Brian, Dreams From The Lion’s Head, 1998, The work of Eamon Colman, Four Fields Press, ISBN 0-9532623 – 0 – 8 |
| Film |
| Artist Profile Film: Fronteer Films – in conjunction with Better Ireland Awards for Drawing Studies programme for National Gallery of Ireland 2000 |
| Collections |
|---|
| Wexford County Council |
| Norwich Union |
| Gordan Lambert Collection - Irish Museum of Modern Art |
| KPMG |
| Jury’s Inn Manchester |
| Irish Contemporary Arts Society |
| Deutsche Bank |
| Gresham Hotel |
| AIB Bank Brussels |
| Bank of Ireland Brussels |
| Philip Docahalo Corp. Florida |
| The Merrion Inn |
| Cleary’s select Tea Rooms |
| Mc Cormack & Sons |
| The Green Lizard Restaurant |
| Royal Victoria Hospital |
| Belfast, Sheen Falls Hotel |
| Kings House Museum, Boyle |
| American Express |
| McCann Fitzgerald |
| Irish Life |
| Office Of Public Works – Government Collection |
| Arthur Anderson |
| Smurfit Ireland Grp. |
| Tralee Regional Technical College |
| Fyffes Ireland, Delta Airlines |
| The Arts Council of Ireland |
| The Danish Arts Council |
| Citibank, Vermont |
| Studio Centre |
| Unitruck |
| Fitzsimon’s Kenny Mallon Solicitors N. Ire., |
| De Vere’s private collection |