Eamon Colman

Overview

Born in Dublin in 1957, Eamon Colman studied in the Trinity Art Workshop and the National College of Art and Design, Dublin, beginning a full time professional career in 1979. He was chairperson of The Artists Association of Ireland (1993-1995) and elected President, The European Council of Artists (1995-2000). Having created over forty solo exhibitions presented nationally and internationally he is considered one of Irelands most important painters. In recognition of his major contribution to Irish culture Eamon Colman was elected a member of Aosdána in 2007 and to the Toscairi in 2018.

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 yrs. This was accompanied by a monograph on his work by writer and art critic Brian Mc Avera entitled Dreams from The Lions Head, The Work of Eamon Colman 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 First Prize Painting Award in EVA International; 2001 First Prize Painting Award in Eigse; 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 and in 2018 was awarded a Culture Ireland GB18 Award.

He has had numerous solo exhibitions in museums and art galleries in Ireland and abroad including: Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin (2004 - 2018); Rubicon Gallery, Dublin (1990 - 2000); Rua Red, South Dublin Arts Center, Tallaght, (2010); Temple Bar Gallery (1986), The Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery (1992); Oriel Q Gallery, Wales (2018, 2010, 2006); Stern Studio Gallery, Vienna (2017, 2011); The Cecille R. Hunt Gallery, St. Louis, USA (2008); Galleri Caernarfon Cyf, Wales (2007). His work has also been included in exhibitions representing contemporary Irish art in Brussels, Denmark, France, Spain, UK, Hong Kong, Canada, and USA.

Colman’s work is represented in many major collections including: The Arts Council of Ireland, Office of Public Works - Government Collection, Gordon Lambert Collection – Irish Museum of Modern Art, AIB Bank, Bank of Ireland, K P M G, Smurfit Ireland Grp, Citibank, Deutsche Bank, Arthur Anderson, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Tralee Regional Technical College, Fyffes Ireland, Delta Airlines, The Danish Arts Council, De Vere’s private collection and various private collections worldwide.

In 2003 he moved from his native Dublin to set up a studio in the rural uplands of north-east Co. Kilkenny where he lives and works.

A SOLO EXHIBITION OF NEW WORK BY EAMON COLMAN WILL TAKE PLACE AT SOLOMON FROM 29 AUGUST - 21 SEPTEMBER 2024

Works

Biography

EAMON COLMAN

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

2018 - 2022 Elected Member of The Arts Council of Ireland, Toscairi

COLLECTIONS

The National Gallery of Ireland; Office Of Public Works- State Art Collection; The Arts Council of Ireland; IBEC; Wexford County Council; Norwich Union; Gordan Lambert Collection – Irish Museum of Modern Art; K P M G; Jury's Inn Manchester; Irish Contemporary Arts Society; Ulster Bank; 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; Arthur Anderson; Smurfit Ireland Grp; Tralee Regional Technical College; Fyffes Ireland; Delta Airlines;The Danish Arts Council; Citibank; Vermont Studio Centre; Unitruck; Fitzsimon’s Kenny; Mallon Solicitors N. Ire.; De Vere’s private collection and various private collections worldwide.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2024 Harmony in Diversity: Nature’s Circular Dance, Solomon Fine Art, Dublin

2023 Twenty-Eight Acres, Butler Gallery and Museum, Kilkenny

2022 Thinking Like a Mountain, Solomon Fine Art, Dublin

2021 Into The Mountain, Source Arts Centre, Co. Tipperary,

2020 The Width of Yourself, Solomon Fine Art, Dublin

2019 The Width of Yourself, Solas Art Gallery, Ballinamore, County Leitrim,

2019 Double Vision, Eamon Colman and Blaise Smith, Kilkenny Arts Festival

2018 Thaw Oriel Q (Queens Hall Gallery), Narberth, Wales, UK

Mark Making, Claremorris Gallery, Co. Mayo

2017 Thinking-In-Movement, Stern Studio, Vienna, Austria

2015 Walking at three miles per hour, Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin

2014 Works on Paper, Oriel Queens Hall Gallery, Narbert, Wales

2013 Panorama, A Review, Strule Arts Centre, Omagh, Co. Tyrone

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

2010 Before the dark gets stronger than the light, RUA RED, South Dublin Arts Centre, Tallaght, Dublin

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

Vantage, Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin

2007 Breath of the River, Galeri Caernarfon Cyf, Wales

2006 Between Bog and a Sagging Wall, Vangard Gallery, Cork

Knot of Souls, South Tipperary Arts Center, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary

Salt River, St. David’s University, Lampeter, Wales

Salt River, Oriel Queens Hall Gallery, Wales

Salt River, Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin

2004 Africa 22º - 35º S, Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin

2002 Walking Vermont, Vermont Studio Centre USA

Vangard Gallery, Cork

2000 Rain on Water, Rubicon Gallery, Dublin

1999 Frederickshaven, Denmark

1998 Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Palais des Congres, Lorient France

River Walk, Vangard Gallery, Cork

1997 Post Cards Home, RHA Gallagher Gallery, Dublin

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, Model Arts Centre, Sligo

1990 India, Rubicon Gallery, Dublin

Dreams from the Lions Head, Rubicon Gallery Dublin

1988 Solo Exhibition Monaghan County Museum

1987 Solo Exhibition, United Arts Club, Dublin

1984 Grafton Gallery, Dublin

1982 Tulfarris Gallery, Wicklow

1980 Tulfarris Gallery, Wicklow

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2023 Woven, Fine Grain, Sasse Museum of Art California, USA

2022 Penser comme une Montagne, Chateau de Dampierre Sur Boutonne, Charente Maritime, France

2021 Sasse Museum, of Art California, USA

360 Exhibition to celebrate first responders to 9.11, Dallas Museum of Biblical Art, USA

2019 Winter Art Fair Artform, 44 The Quay, Waterford,

VUE, Irish Contemporary Irish Art Fair (Solomon Fine Art) RHA Gallery

Boyle Arts Festival, Kings House, Boyle, curated by Paul McKenna

RHA Annual Exhibition 2019, Dublin

Nineteen Hundred and Nineteen, Hamilton Gallery, Sligo touring to Irish Consulate New York

2018 VUE, Irish Contemporary Irish Art Fair, (Gibbons and Nicholas) RHA Gallery

RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin

Boyle Arts Festival, Co. Roscommon curated by Paul McKenna

2017 Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival, Newbridge, Co. Kildare

Summer Exhibition, Catherine Hammond Gallery, West Cork

2016 Greenacres Gallery, Wexford Opera Festival

2015 Eigse Arts Festival, VISUAL, Carlow

Boyle Arts Festival, Roscommon

Impressions of WB Yeats, Hamilton Gallery, Sligo

2014 Hillsboro Fine Art, Christmas Exhibition Dublin

VUE, Irish Contemporary Irish Art Fair, RHA Gallery

Arusha Gallery, Edinburgh, Mid Summers Exhibtion

2013 VUE, Irish Contemporary Irish Art Fair, RHA Gallery,

2012 The Good Children Gallery, New Orleans, USA (three-person exhibition)

2011 RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin – invited

Boyle Arts Festival, Co. Roscommon

2010 Kilkenny Arts Festival

Boyle Arts Festival

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

Nicholas Gallery, Belfast

RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin

Art Miami, Hillsboro Fine Art, USA

2006 RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin

2005 Eigse, Carlow

RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin

Boyle Arts Festival

Wexford Arts Festival

Kilcock Art Gallery

Nicholas Art Gallery, Belfast

Amber Arts Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland

2004 Eigse, Carlow

RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin

Irish Art, Angera Italy, to coincide with Irish Presidency

Grand Gala, RHA Gallagher Gallery, Dublin

Christmas Exhibition Hillsboro Fine Art

2003 RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin

Greenacres Gallery, Wexford Opera Festival

Eigse, Carlow

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

Landscape & Recollection, The Ballinglen Experience, RHA Gallery,

1996 Irish Art, Dillon Gallery, London

RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin

1995 Irish Art, Singapore

Irish Life Mall, Dublin

Civic Forum, Barcelona, Spain

RHA Annual Exhibition Dublin

1994 Banquet, Exhibition, RHA Gallagher Gallery Dublin

An t-Oireachtas, Guinness Hops Store, Dublin

Iontas, Sligo Art Gallery & RHA Gallagher Gallery, Dublin

Irish Artists, Donal / Maxwell, Philadelphia USA

1993 Monaghan Arts Centre, Monaghan Open

Irish showcase Exhibition, Hong Kong

Touchstone Gallery, Hong Kong

1992 RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin

Contemporary Irish Art Society Exhibition, Hugh Lane Municipal

Gallery of Modern Art, Dublin

1991 RHA annual Exhibition, Dublin

Boyle Arts Week, Roscommon

1990 Images from Ireland, Brussels

European Artist of Promise, Brussels

Echoes, Rue de Spa, Brussels

1988 Claremorris Open, Mayo

Celtic Vision, Bank of Ireland, Dublin

An t- Oireachtas Exhibition, Dublin

E V & A, Limerick

Open Circle, Scotland

De Bello Gallery, Toronto, Ontario Canada

Irish Art, Knapp gallery

1987 S. A.D.E 1987, Cork

1986 Independent Artist Guinness Hops Store, Dublin

Eamon Colman / Nick Miller, Temple Bar Gallery, Dublin

John Piper/ Eamon Colman, Winsor Arts Centre London

Celtic Vision Mueseo Espanol de Arte Contemporaneo, Madrid, Spain

Celtic Vision Palacio Municipal de Exposition, Spain

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

Arts Act Grant, Kilkenny Co. Council

Tyrone Guthrie Centre Residency awarded by Kilkenny Co. Council

2017 Culture Ireland Award, exhibition in Vienna, Austria

2015 ArtLinks 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)

Cill Railaig Project (invited to work with Niall Nessans / Master Print maker), residency

Ballinglen Art Foundation, residency, Co. Mayo

Inish Lacken Project, Connemara, Co. Galway (residency)

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

The Vermont Studio Centre USA, Full Fellowship Award

2001 Eigse, First prize painting

1% For Art Commission, The Bell Centre, Darndale, Dublin

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

S.I.P.T.U. Print Award

1992 Ballinglen Arts Foundation, residency Co. Mayo

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

The Tyrone Guthrie Centre, artist in residence

Studio Exchange for one year to India, The Calcutta Artist Union,

Nov.1989 - 1990

1987 Purchase Award S.A.D.E

TEACHING / TALKS / LECTURES

2022 Solomon Fine Art, Artist talk with Prof Dr Gerry Kearns (MU)

2020 Solomon Fine Art, Artist talk

University College Cork, Conferring Ceremony – invited guest speaker

2018 Claremorris Gallery, Co. Mayo, gallery talk

Oriel Q Gallery, Narberth, Wales, UK, 15September gallery talk

2017 Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise, Co. Laois gallery talk

2015 The National Gallery of Ireland: Artist in residence Culture Night talk

Voice Box, invited guest speaker at VISUAL, Carlow

Walking at three miles per hour; artist talk Hillsboro Fine Art

The National Gallery of Ireland: Celebrating 150 Years in 2014 50^th Christmas Family Art Holiday, Invited artist “In conversation with Evelyn O’Rourke” RTE

2014 The National Gallery of Ireland: Artist in Residence, Culture Night

Oriel Queens Hall Gallery, Narberth, Wales, Artist Talk

2013 Culture Night, Roundstone, Co. Galway, Artist Talk

The National Gallery of Ireland: Artist in Residence, Culture Night talk

Panorama – Artist talk, Strule Arts Center, Omagh, Co. Tyrone

Eamon Colman in conversation with Dr. David Brancaleone, Triskel Christchurch, Cork

2012 The National Gallery of Ireland: Artists Face to Face, “Eamon Colman The artist and his studio in Kilkenny” invited artist lecture

The National Gallery of Ireland: Drawing Day, invited host artist

2010 Rua Red, Tallaght – artist in residence to co-inside with exhibition,

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

Ballyfermot Travellers Action Project, Book Project linked with women’s children’s groups in Ethiopia

2008 Webster University, St Louis USA – artist in residence to co-inside with

my exhibition

Since 1998 The National Gallery of Ireland, Drawing Studies Programme - host artist

2009 Summer Children’s Art Camp, Kilkenny

2002 Roscommon Arts Centre - working with local groups, secondary & 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 & drug rehabilitation 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

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

2020 Niall MacMonagle, The Sunday Independent, Living magazine, p. 13

Aidan Dunne, Art in Focus: Moorhen Call from the Smell of the Pond, it seems to Furrow the Smooth Surface of Silence by Eamon Colman, p. 33 The Irish Times, Ticket - culture Magazine, 8/2/2020.

Penny McCormack, The Gloss magazine, interview with Eamon Colman 8/2/2020

2019 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 September

2015 ‘The Pleasue List’, Living magazine.

2014 Brancaleone, David Dr., ‘Visual Conversation’ David Brancaleone Talks to Eamon Colman about his painting in Visual Artist Newsletter, March / April 2014

2013 John P. O’Sullivan, The Sunday Times, Culture Magazine

Leach Hughes, Cristín, “Eamon Colman – Scattered Showers”, The Sunday Times, Culture Magazine May 26, 2013

2010 Leach Hughes, Cristín, “Hue and cry over nature” The Sunday Times, Culture Magazine, November 28, 2010, p. 14

2007 Mc Avera, Brian, “Between Abstaction and Landscape” Irish Arts Review, Spring 2007 – cover page & p. 62

Dunne, Aidan, “Salt River, Eamon Colman at Hillsboro Fine Art”, The Irish Times, April 27, p. 14

2006 Felder, Tess, “The Constant Gardener”, The Kilkenny People, April 7 2006, p. 27

2002 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

1997 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

1995 Dunne, Aidan, "Critics Choice", Sunday Tribune, Dec. 1995, p.8

1994 Dunne, Aidan, "Keeping the Art in the Family", Sunday Tribune, Aug. 7, 1994, p.8

Anon, "Displays in Philadelphia", Philadelphia Enquirer, Oct. 20, 1994

1992 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

1991 MacNamidhe, Margaret, "Irish Artists Abroad", in Profile, Gandon Press, Dublin, 1991

1990 MacAvock, Desmond, "Eamon Colman At the Rubicon Gallery", Irish Times, June 1990

1988 Anon, "Colman Wins EV&A" Cork Examiner, Oct. 16 1988

1987 Fallon, Brian, "Second SADE at Cork", Irish TImes, July 8, 1987

1986 McCrum, Sean, "Sitting Up at the Bar", Irish Times, Sept. 3, 1986

Dunne, Aidan, "Irish Art", Sunday Tribune, June 1986

1985 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

1982 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

1981 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

IRISH MONOGRAPH

McAvera, Brian, "Dreams from The Lion's Head", The work of Eamon Colman, Four Fields Press, 1998, ISBN 0-9532623 - 0 - 8

ARTIST CATALOGUES

2022 Kearns, Gerry, Thinking like a Mountain, Solomon Fine Art, publishers Solomon Fine Art

2021 Kearns, Gerry, Into The Mountain, Source Arts Centre, Co. Tipperary, publishers - Red Fox Press

2020 Biggs, Iain, Eamon Colman - The Width of Yourself, 2020, Solomon Fine Art, Dublin, Ireland. ISBN: 978-1-9163536-0-2

2013 Terry Sweeney, Eamon Colman - Panorama, 2013, Strule Arts Center, Omagh, Northern Ireland

2010 Daniel Mc Grath, Eamon Colman at the Cecille R. Hunt Gallery, Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri (Webster University Press) 2010

Robert O’Byrne, Dictionary of Living Irish Artists, Plurabelle Publishing, p.56 & 57, ISBN 978-0-9563011-0-9

2004 O’ Reagan, John (ed.), Profile 25 – Eamon Colman (Gandon Editions, Kinsale) ISBN 0948037 350

McAvera, Brian; Dorgan, Theo, "Africa 22º - 35º S", Cassagh Press 2004 ISBN 0-9547955-0-4

2002 McLaughlin, Nicholas, "Walking Vermont", Recent Works 2002

ARTIST PROFILE FILM

‘A Man, a Place’, Wallslough Studios profile of Eamon Colman: about the artist and his local environment where he finds inspiration for his solo exhibition 28-Acres at The Butler Gallery and Museum, Kilkenny.

Fronteer Films- in conjunction with Better Ireland Awards for Drawing Studies programme for National Gallery of Ireland 2000

Exhibitions