Celebrated artist showcases the heart of rural life in Kilkenny

Eugene Conway, one of Ireland’s most prominent landscape painters, is set to unveil his latest collection of pieces showcasing the heart of rural Ireland.

The exhibition of 11 new pieces, entitled Memories of Home, will be held from May 11 – 30 at Gormleys Dublin.

Known for his realist and emotive approach to painting, Conway is renowned for his talent at capturing the essence and beauty of rural Ireland in his stunning landscapes.

In Conway’s paintings, the landscape of County Kilkenny is brought centre stage. His main subjects – bridges, roads, farms, barns and byways – are what he describes as the unsung heroes of the Irish countryside.

Conway’s paintings are quiet and contemplative scenes, they do not suggest any sense of drama, or dwell on the bucolic or the picturesque, but merely highlight the unfolding of ordinary rural life.

Equally, Conway uses these scenes to reflect the layers of history left by habitation and farming.
His choice of colour palate is fresh and minimalistic, with each painting’s colour scheme relating directly to the weather, the seasons, and the passage of time-related to the piece.

Born in 1965, he moved from Dublin to Kilkenny as a child, and the move to the countryside had a huge impact on his style as an artist. Growing up, Conway developed a great love and appreciation for the beauty and nature of rural Ireland.

Beginning his professional art education at the National College of Art & Design in Dublin, he has since become one of Ireland’s leading landscape painters.

“A lot of the time they go unnoticed: old sheds, old walls, a wet ditch after the summer rain, or maybe the way that the light is hitting something, bringing out a lovely pattern,” said Conway.

“But the light is at a certain point. If you come back an hour later, everything has changed.

“Some places in rural Ireland are ignored: people drift to the city for work and social life, and the small towns and villages inevitably suffer.

“However, when painting, I like to imagine the history which gives me a sense of nostalgia.

“I like to ask myself, was there a big family or a small family who lived there, did the siblings emigrate or do they live nearby, was it a happy environment, or who was the last to live there? I love the old stonework and the structure of the building against the natural environment and the wildness of nature gradually taking over.”

The exhibition will open with a reception on May 11, where attendees will have the opportunity to meet the artist and learn more about his creative process.

Visitors can expect to be transported to the heart of rural Ireland through Conway’s evocative and nostalgic paintings. Conway’s exhibition of new works, Memories of Home, will be held from May 11 – 30 at Gormleys Dublin.

See gormleys.ie.