There are twenty four works in this exhibition that have never been exhibited in public. The works were selected by M St.J E from a large selection taken from John’s studio in Henrietta Street. There are an extra six drawings that were exhibited in the RHA Annual in 2004 that John did from his hospital bed in 2003 when he was told he was dying. John died on the 26th March 2006.
John Kelly was known principally as a painter and a printmaker, he was also a playwright who had his work performed in the Gate theatre, a designer for the stage, founding member of the Independent Artists group -‘the young lions’ of Irish art in their day, – one of the prime movers behind the initiation of the Project Arts Centre in the late 60s , Director of the Graphic print studio, one of the founders of the Blackchurch Print Studio, a highly respected lecturer at NCAD, a member of the RHA, and in his latter years a luminary in Aosdána.
The exhibition is accompanied by an illustrated hard back book, with archival photographs and essay’s by Gerry Walker, Michael Kane, Lara Kelly and Caitríona Kelly.
John Kelly RHA, 27th January 1932 – 26th March 2006
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