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Referencing Postmodernism

Born in Limerick, Robert Ryan graduated from Limerick School of Art and Design in 1987. He worked in Copenhagen and London before returning to Ireland in 1994.

In Ireland Ryan’s work is viewed as somewhat unique. Referencing post-modern, it borrows qualities from European old masters, using traditional characteristics in a modern context. Robert Ryan paints landscape, but his work cannot be described as ‘landscape painting’.

View ‘Death of a Leader’ within the Collection

Death of a Leader by Robert Ryan

Death of a Leader by Robert Ryan

View ‘Mother and Young’ within the Collection

Mother and Young by Robert Ryan

Mother and Young by Robert Ryan

The Commonality Between Man and Other Creatures

Allegorical concepts such as the infinity of space and time, solitude, vulnerability, fragility and the cycle of life are explored in his paintings and drawings in which a generic four-legged creature is central. This creature inhabits another world, a universal landscape. Ryan has cultivated his images of both place and it’s inhabitants into a hybrid, a non-specific and as a result the viewer is left to reflect on essential truths. This is work that ultimately celebrates the commonality between man and all other creatures past, present and future.

An interest in zoology and travel has hugely informed Ryan’s work. He has traveled widely, visiting over sixty countries on all continents where he has encountered many different eco-systems, experiencing first hand how all living things interact, how they respond to their environment, how man responds to other evolutionary groups and how we value that fact. This knowledge forms a major part of the concepts for his work.

Robert Ryan lives and works in Lough Gur, Co. Limerick, Ireland. Lough Gur is a small placid lake, surrounded by rugged limestone hills and deciduous woodland. It has been continuously inhabited since the arrival of neolithic people five thousand years ago. It is a place of outstanding archaeological significance. Ruins and artifacts from many periods of Irish history have been found here. The evocative qualities of this environment have been a constant source of inspiration for his work.

Biography

  • Born in Limerick, Ireland, 1963
  • Limerick School of Art & Design, Limerick, Ireland,1983-1987
  • Lives and works in Lough Gur, Co Limerick, Ireland

Solo Exhibitions

  • Last Of A Species, Naughton Gallery, Queens University, Belfast,NI, 2013
  • Cherrylane Fine Arts, Greystones, Co.Wicklow, 2013
  • The Passage Of Time, Peppercanister Gallery, Dublin, Ireland, 2012
  • Themes, Motifs, Aspect,. Limerick Printmakers, Limerick, Ireland, 2010
  • Between Worlds, Wexford Festival Opera, Wexford, Ireland, 2009
  • The Spirit Inside, Chris Doswell Gallery, Rosscarbery , Ireland, 2008
  • Sanctury, Tynan Gallery, Portlaois, Ireland, 2008
  • A Place of Refuge, Hallward Gallery, Dublin, Ireland, 2006
  • Pilgrims, Hunt Museum, Limerick, Ireland, 2006
  • Earth and Sky, Moulin Gallery, Limerick, Ireland, 2004
  • The Search for Paradise, Courthouse Art Centre, Tinahelly & Market House, Monaghan, Ireland, 2004
  • Lost Souls, Wexford Arts Centre, Wexford, Ireland, 2002
  • A Dark Empty Place, Belltable Arts Centre, Limerick, Ireland, 2000
  • After the Final Sunset, South Tipperary Arts Centre, Clonmel, Ireland, 1998
  • New Works, Arts Council, Dublin, Ireland, 1995
  • New Works, Galleri Henning, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1998

Group Exhibitions

  • Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland, 2013
  • Boyle Arts Festival, Co.Roscommon, Ireland, 2013
  • Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland, 2012
  • Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland, 2011
  • Annual Exhibition, Ulster Royal Academy, Belfast, N.I., 2011
  • Five Painters, The Source Arts Centre, Thurles, Ireland, 2011
  • Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland, 2010
  • An Éire of the Senses, World Expo, Shanghai, China, 2010
  • Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland, 2009
  • Annual Exhibition, Ulster Royal Academy, Belfast, N.I., 2009
  • Two Person Show with David Begley. Norman Gallery, Co, Wexford, Ireland, 2009
  • Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland, 2008
  • Annual Exhibition, Royal Ulster Academy, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 2008
  • Irish Contemporary Art, Orlando, USA, 2008
  • 30th Anniversary Exhibition, Oisin Gallery, Dublin, Ireland, 2008
  • Oireachtas, Dublin, Ireland, 2008
  • Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland, 2007
  • Made in Ireland, Beijing & Shanghi, China, 2007
  • Boyle Arts Festival, Co Roscommon, Ireland, 2007
  • Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland, 2006
  • Irish Contemporary Art, John Martin Gallery, at Lilique, New York, USA, 2006
  • Eigse 2006, Carlow, Ireland, 2006
  • Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland, 2005
  • Into the Jungle, John Martin Gallery, London, England, 2005
  • Eigse 2005, Carlow, Ireland, 2005
  • Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland, 2004
  • Myth and Magic, John Martin Gallery, London, England, 2004
  • Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland, 2003
  • Oireachtas, Dublin, Ireland, 2003
  • Ochtar, Hunt Museum, Limerick, Ireland, 2003
  • Oireachtas, Dublin, Ireland, 2002
  • Eigse, Carlow, Ireland, 2001
  • Group Show, Blue Leaf Gallery, Dublin, Ireland, 2001
  • Oireachtas, Dublin, Ireland, 2001
  • Visions, Hallward Gallery, Dublin, Ireland, 2001
  • Joy, Galway City Gallery. Ireland, 2001
  • Oireachtas, Dublin, Ireland, 2000
  • lontas, Sligo, Ireland, 2000
  • Irish Art, The Vine Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 2000
  • lontas, Sligo, Ireland, 1999
  • New Works, Dye House Gallery, Waterford, Ireland, 1998
  • Four by Eight, Wexford Arts Centre, Wexford, Ireland, 1998
  • Oireachtas, Dublin, Ireland, 1998
  • lontas, Sligo, Ireland, 1998
  • EV+A 98, Limerick, Ireland, 1998
  • SOS 98, Ardgillen Castle Dublin.1998
  • Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland, 1997
  • Annual Exhibition, Royal Ulster Academy, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1997
  • New Works, Anna Von Gosslin Gallery, Dublin, Ireland, 1997
  • Art International, Wemyss Gallery, Sydney, Australia, 1997
  • Perishing Permanence, Dolmen Gallery, Limerick, Ireland, 1996
  • lontas, Sligo, Ireland, 1996
  • Group Show, On the Pool Gallery, London, England, 1993
  • Group Show, Atrium Gallery, London, England, 1991
  • Group Show, Open Studios, White Chapel Gallery, London, England, 1990
  • Group Show, Galleri Henning, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1988
  • Juxtaposition, Limerick City Gallery, 1987

Collections

  • National Contemporary Drawing Collection
  • National Portrait Collection
  • Office of Public Works, Ireland
  • RTE, Lyric FM, Ireland
  • Limerick City Gallery
  • Limerick County Council, Ireland
  • Wexford County Council, Ireland
  • Wexford Art Centre, Ireland
  • Limerick City Gallery Ireland

 

Website: http://www.robertryanireland.com/index.html