Biography
Pádraic Reaney was born in Carraroe, Co. Galway in 1952.He studied Fine Art at Galway, Regional Technical College encouraged by the well-known sculptor Oisín Kelly and has been a full-time artist since leaving college. He painted for several years in Galway; later he built a studio in Moycullen, where he now lives and works. He has exhibited extensively in Ireland, Scotland and Wales and his work is in public and private collections in Ireland as well as in Europe, Canada, USA, Brazil, Japan, South Africa and Australia. His work is held in collections such as the Modern Irish Art Collection; Dublin Writers Museum, Ireland; Irish Embassy, London; Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum, Quinnipiac University, USA; Siena Art Institute, Italy; Urawa Wood-Cut Prints Association, Japan.
International Reputation
Reaney’s international reputation has grown over the years, and in particular his work on The Táin and his interpretation of the legacy of An Gorta Mór/The Great Irish Famine have won him wide critical acclaim as a key figure in contemporary Irish visual arts. He represented Ireland in the XVIth Grand Prix International d’Arts Contempora in de Monte Carlo in 1982. A film was made of one of his exhibitions based on The Táin, which was R.T.É.’s entry in the Pan Celtic International Film Festival for 1988 – it was one of the three top films in the festival. In 1996 he was invited to Scotland by the North Ayrshire Council to undertake a series of exhibitions on the Isles and the West Coast of Scotland.
Work in Ireland
A founder member of Western Artists, Island Connection, and Drimcong Press (with Brian Bourke and Jay Murphy), Reaney was awarded the Pádraic Mac Con Midhe Prize at the Oireachtas in 1979 to make a series of etchings recording the rapidly disappearing thatched houses in Ros an Mhíl, Connemara. He later exhibited a series of photographs based on this work of the ruined cottages in Ros an Mhíl (1979-1983) at the Galway City Museum, July-October 2008. Reaney was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Galway Arts Centre in 1996 and served on the Board until 1999.
Reaney was commissioned to design the Liam Ó Flaherty Commemorative Garden on Inishmore, Aran and to create a piece of bronze sculpture for the garden which was unveiled by Minister Eamon Ó Cuív when the garden was officially opened. Also in 2006, Reaney curated the successful Project 06 Exhibition, The Irish Eye in the Kenny Gallery. In 2007 he curated The Oliver Gogarty 50th Anniversary Art Exhibition, at the Renvyle House Hotel.
His Lawrence town piece, which was commissioned by the Galway County Council, is a seven- foot bronze piece depicting the story of Diarmaid and Gráinne. He was commissioned by the Galway Chamber of Commerce to design the Paddy Ryan Memorial Medal which was presented to the speaker at the first Paddy Ryan Memorial Lecture at NUI Galway in 2007. He has also had work commissioned from the Irish National Parks & Wildlife Service over the years. His work is in great demand for book covers and illustrations, and he has recently created a series of striking wall hangings done in the studio of V’Soske Joyce, now Dixons Carpets, Connemara.
Selected Collection
President Michael D. Higgins
Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum, Connecticut, USA
Siena Art Institute, Siena, Italy
Urawa Wood-Cut Prints Association, Japan
Irish Embassy, London
The Great Hunger Collection Quinnipiac University, USA
McCann FitzGerald Dublin
Glasgow Vennel Museum, Irvine, Scotland.
President McAleese
Town Hall Theatre, Galway
Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Dublin
Great Southern Hotel Group
Brian Wilson M. P., Minister of State at the Scottish Office
Dublin Writers Museum, Dublin
The Modern Irish Art Collection, Athlone Institute of Technology, Athlone
Udaras na Gaeltachta
National Museum of Malta
President Hilary
County Library Collection, Kildare
Selected Commissions
Dr A.M. Mannion, England
Gairdín Cuimhneacháin Liam Ó Flaithearta, Inis Mór
Commemorative Garden Liam Ó Flaherty, Aran
Lóchrann Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta. Udaras na Gaeltachta
Paddy Ryan Memorial Medal
Galway County Council Public Sculpture
commission for Lawrencetown
New Irish Department Building, U.C.G.
Bard, Ireland, Ltd. Galway
Ostan Cheathrú Rua, Co. na Gaillimhe
Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, Mount Sion, Waterford
Galway Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Gaillimhle Gaeilge
Coole Park, Co. Galway
The National Parks and Wildlife
Commemorative Plaque with poem by Moya Cannon, Wolfe Tone Bridge, Galway
Three stained glass windows, Teach PobailLeitir Móir, Co. na Gaillimhe
Awards
Awarded the Pádraic Mac Con Midhe Prize, Oireachtas,’79 Dublin. 1979
Artists Bursary Award, Galway County Council 2003
Nominee in the County Heritage Awards, Galway 2009
Site Specific Work
Galway County Council Public Sculpture commission for Lawrencetown, Galway. (Outdoor life-size sculpture)
Gairdín Cuimhneacháin Liam Ó Flaithearta, Inis Mór
Commemorative Garden Liam Ó Flaherty, Aran. (Outdoor life-size sculpture)
Three stained glass windows, Teach PobailLeitir Móir, Co. na Gaillimhe
Commemorative Plaque with poem by Moya Cannon, Wolfe Tone Bridge, Galway
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2016
Ros an Mhil, 1997 – 1983, Coole Park, Co. Galway
2015
Crazy Lane, Gort Public Limrary, Gort, Co. Galway. 2015-2016
Crazy Jane, Hyde Bridge Gallery(Yeats Society) Sligo
Crazy Jane Clifden Arts Festivel, Clifden Co Galway
Crazy Jane, Kenny Art Gallery, Galway
Crazy Jane, Sole art gallery, Dublin
Crazy Jane Exhibition of Graphics, Coole Park, Co. Galway
2011
Ros an Mhil, 1997 – 1983, The TouristCentre, Oughterard, Co. Galway
Ros an Mhíl, 1979 – 1983 Connemara National Park, Letterfrack, Co. Galway
2009
Paintings and Graphics, Arts and Cultural Centre, Inisheer Aran Islands, Co. Galway
2008
Ros an Mhil, 1997 – 1983, The Galway City Museum, Galway.
2011, 08,02, 00, 98, 97, 95
The Kenny Gallery, Galway
2005
Paintings and Sculpture , The Gallery, Tuam, Co. Galway
Monuments of Inis Mór, Connemara National Park, Letterfrack, Co. Galway
Exhibition of Paintings and Sculpture Eigse An Spidéil 2005, Spidéal, Co. na Gaillimhe (Invited artist)
2003-04
Crazy Jane, Galway Arts Centre, Galway
2002
Exhibition of Graphics, Glyn YWeddw Art Gallery, Wales
Exhibition of Graphics, Harlech, Nr. Wales
Painting/Sculpture , Castlekirk, Isle of Arran, Scotland
Tribes of Galway Féile 2002, Town Hall, Galway
2001
Ros an Mhíl , Carraroe, Co. Galway
2000
United Arts Club, Dublin
Celtic Connections 2000, Glasgow, Scotland
Súil Siar, Foxford Exhibition Centre, Mayo
1999
Súil Siar, Retrospective of Graphics 1973-1999, An Dámhlann Spiddal, Co. Galway.
1998
Paintings Graphics and Sculpture, The Gallery, Tuam, Co. Galway.
1997
Colm Cille. Prionsa, Laoch, Manach, File
Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Dublin
Colmcille, Prince, Warrior, Priest and Poet, Columba, University of Stathclyde, Glasgow
Graphics through the Years, Germany
1996
Images from the Tain, Castlekirk, Isle of Arran, Scotland
Images from the Tain, Ann Lenteir Gallery, Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Images from the Tain, Brisbane Centre and Vikingar Centre, Largs, Scotland
1995
Gorta Mór, The Dolan Moore Gallery, Athlone
1994
Ionad Arann, Arann. Co. na Gaillimhe
1993
Retrospective 1973-1993, Galway, Sligo, Castlebar, Dublin,Wexford, and Laois.
1992
The Tain and before, Pan-Celtic International Festival Galway (Invited artist)
1991
Graphics and Sculpture through the Years, Dolan Moore Gallery, Athlone
1990
Windows on the Tain, Heritage Centre, Strokestown. (Invited artist)
1989
Winnower Gallery, Galway
1988
Ostan Cheathrú Rua, Co. na Gaillimhe
1987, 85, 84, 83, 82, 81, 80, 91
Stone Art Gallery, Spiddal, Co. Galway
1984
Carroll Gallery, Longford
Quincentennial Exhibition, Galway
1979
Exhibition of Prints, Congress of Celtic
Studies, University College Galway (Invited artist)
Two Person and Three Person Exhibitions
2002
Tulca, Festival of Visual Art, Galway, with Brian Bourke
1982
Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture, with Edward Delaney and Caitriona Ni Dhubhshlaine
1989
3 Artists in Malta Bridge, Mills Gallery, Galway. With John Behan RHA and Vicki Crowley
Group Exhibitions
2017
The 16th Lessedra World Art Print Annual — Mini Print 2017 Sofia, Bulgaria
Crazy Jane, Hamilton Gallery, Sligo
Clifden Arts Festivel, Clifden, Co Galway
2016
Comóradh, 1916 Rising-Themed Artwork, Kenny Gallery, Galway
EP’16 Galway Print Studio, Galway (Invited artist)
Sculpture for Galway, Kenny Art Gallery, Galway
Clifden Arts Festivel, Clifden, Co Galway
2015
Kennys 1940-2015, Kenny Gallery, Galway
M’áit Dhúchais (My Native Please), Oughterard Courthouse, Co. Galway
Courthouse opening Exhibition, Oughterard, Co. Galway
14th Lessedra World Art Print Annual Mini Print 2015 Bulgaria
Galway Print Studio, Exhibition, Galway
2014
Barbara Stanley Gallery, London
Greenacres Wexford Festival Opera Exhibition, Wexford
Summer Exhibition Cong Art Gallery, Cong, Co. Mayo
Russborough House Garden Sculpture Exhibition, Co. Wicklow
The George Moore Society’s Famine Collection, Claremorris Gallery, Claremorris, Mayo
Sculpture Group Show, Gormley’s Gallery, Dublin
2013
Nations-Water-Cultures, United Nations Headquarters, New York
Active Aging Nation Unirll Museum, Romania
Painting and Sculpture Show The Secret Gardan Gallery, Arran, Scotland
Wexford Festival Opera Art Exhibition Greenacres Art Galleries, Wexford
Irish Sculpture Gormleys Gallery, Dublin
2013,12, 11, 09, 06, 05, 09, 92, 93, 94, 95
Kenney Art Gallery, Galway
2012
Art from Ireland 12 Star Gallery, Europe House, London
Celtic Expression Gallery 90, London
2011
Drawing Connections Siena Art Institute, Siena, Italy
CAST25 James Wray Gallery, Belfast
CAST25 Solomon Fine Art, 15 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin
Contemporary Sculpture in Irish Gardens, Ballintubbert Garden, Athy, Co. Kildare.
2010
umn Group Exhibition, The James Gallery, Dalkey.Co. Dublin
Seóda Sculpture Exhibition, The Ava Gallery,Bangor, Co. Down
9th Lessedra World Art Print Annual Mini Print 2010, Bulgaria
2009
Barbara Stanley Gallery, London
Garden Sculpture, Frank Lewis Gallery, Killarne
2008
25th Anniversary of the James Gallery The James Gallery, Dublin
Garden Sculpture, Frank Lewis Gallery, Killarney
2007
Reflections from the Well, An Tobar Arts Centre, Tobermory,Isle of Mull, Scotland
The James Gallery, Spring Show, Dublin
Garden Sculpture, Frank Lewis Gallery, Killarney
The Gogarty 50th Anniversary Art Exhibition, Renvyle House Hotel, Connemara Co. Galway.
2006
5th Lessedra World Art Print Annual Mini Print 2006, Bulgaria
Intercontinental Biennial of Small Graphics, Romania
The Irish Eye Project’06, Galway
James Gallery, Spring Show, Dublin
Garden Sculpture, Frank Lewis Gallery, Killarney
James Gallery Autumn Show, Dublin
2005
4th Lessedra World Art Print Annual Mini Print 2005, Bulgaria
Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
Royal Ulster Academy of Arts, Belfast
ART@ Wexford Vocational College, Wexford
2004
The Irish Art Exhibition 2004, Nebraska, U.S.A.
Gallerie du Frouedic, L’Orient, France
Garden Sculpture, Frank Lewis Gallery, Killarney
2003
Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
Barbara Stanley Gallery, London
Garden Sculpture, Frank Lewis Gallery, Killarney
2002
Tulca Festival of Visual Art, Galway
Barbara Stanley Gallery, London
2001
The Art of Hurling, Galway Arts Festival, Galway
2000
Oireachtais Exhibition, Dublin
Físagus Teanga Féile 2000, Galway Arts Centre, Galway
1999
Totally Bronze, An Dámhlann, Spidéil, Co. na Gaillimhe
1998
International Print Triennial in Kanagawa ‘98. Kanagawa-Ken Japan
18 Mini Print Internacional, de Cadaqués, 1998
Traveling Show to: England, Spain and France, 1998-99
1997
Oireachtais Exhibition, Guinness Hopstore, Dublin (Invited artist)
Famine Guinness Hop Store, Dublin
Famine, Ormeau Baths gallery, Belfast
1996
In Homage to Jonathan Swift , Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim.
Club Chonradh na Gaeilge, Dublin
1995
Commemorating the Famine, The American Embassy, Dublin.
The Great Famine, George Moore Society Exhibition, Claremorris
Commemorating the Irish Famine, Roscommon
The Mill Gallery, Drimoleague, West Cork
Club Chonradh na Gaeilge, Dublin
Oileán, City Hall, Belfast, 1995
Oireachtais Exhibition, Guinness Hopstore, Dublin.
(Invited artist)
Oileán, (Travelling Show)
Gallerie du Frouedic, L’Orient, France
1994
Oireachtais Exhibition, Guinness Hopstore, Dublin
(Invited artist)
Iontas Sligo Art Gallery, Sligo & R.H.A.Gallagher Gallery, Dublin
OileánDaingean Uí Chúise, Co. Chiarraí
Durrow Castle, Arts Festival, Durrow
1993, 92, 91, 90, 81, 88, 89
Stone Art Gallery, Spiddal, Co. Galway
1993
Bird Art in Ireland, Feathers Gallery, Dublin
1992
Personal Theme, Travelling Show, Cadaques, Barcelona, Spain and Andorra
Art at the Airport , Belfast Airport, Belfast
Oileán Oireachtas 1992, Dingle, Co. Kerry
R.H.A. Banquet Exhibition 1992, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin
Island Connection, Centro de Arte Le Recova, nection, Travelling Show, Ireland.
O. E. ’91, Claremorris, Co. Mayo.
The 10th Mini Print International Cadaques 1990-1992 Spain
1991
Faces in a Bookshop Gaeilge ’91, Derry,
Western Artists Exhibition, Galway Arts Festival,
Galway.
O. E. ’91, Claremorris, Co. Mayo.
1990
The 10th Mini Print International Cadaques 1990-1992, Spain
International Independante Exhibition of Prints, Japan.
R.H.A. Banquet Exhibition ’90, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin.
Landscape Exhibition, United Arts Club, Dublin.
Soviet and Irish Art Exhibition, Mansion House, Dublin.
An Exhibition of Illustrations for Contemporary literature, Galway arts Centre, Galway.
Western Artists Exhibition, Galway Arts Festival, Galway
1989
Fool’s Gold, West Aware, Galway & Dublin
The 9th International Wood Block Prints Exhibition, Urawa ’89 Japan.
Tree of Life Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin.
1988
Island Connection, National Museum, Valletta, Malta
Western Artists Exhibition, Galway Arts Festival, Galway
1987
Celebration of the Bog, Carroll Gallery, and the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin
Western Artists Exhibition, Galway Arts Festival Galway.International Independante Exhibition of Prints, Japan
1986
International Independante Exhibition of Prints, Japan
1985
International Independante Exhibition of Prints, Japan
Western Artists Exhibition, Galway Arts Festival, Galway
1983
International Independante Exhibition of Prints, Japan
1982
International Artists Exhibition, Galway Arts Centre, Galway
Arteder ’82, International Graphics Art Exhibition Bilbao, Spain
The XVIth International Grand Prix of Contemporary Art of Monte – Carlo
1981
Listowel Graphic Exhibition, Listowel, Co. Kerry
1980
Young Artists Exhibition, Lad Lane Gallery, Dublin
Listowel Graphic Exhibition, Listowel, Co. Kerry
1978
Listowel Graphic Exhibition, Listowel, Co. Kerry
