Western Light Art Gallery, Keel, Achill Island, Co. Mayo. Ireland.
John Behan R.H.A. is recognized internationally for his considerable role in developing Ireland’s reputation for sculptural work over the last 50 years. His artistic journey has involved him in the National College of Art & Design in Dublin, Ealing Art College in London and the Royal Academy School in Oslo. He was a founder member of the New Artists group in 1962 and Dublin’s innovative Project Art Centre in Dublin in 1967. He is a co-founder of the Dublin Art Foundry first formed in 1970.
Many honours have been awarded to John Behan over the years. He became a Member of the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1990, having been an Associate of the Academy since 1973. He is a member of Aosdána. Behan was appointed to the Arts Council of Ireland from 1973 to 1978 and received an honorary Doctor of Literature by NUI Galway in 2000. A large commissioned sculpture “Twin Spires” was unveiled at the university campus in 2000.
The Office of Public Works commissioned “Arrival”. This monumental bronze sculpture of a famine ship, depicting 150 disembarking bronze figures on the deck, was presented to the United Nations by the Government of Ireland in 2000. It is sited outside the UN Buildings in New York. The National Famine Memorial “Famin Ship” is displayed at the base of Croagh Patrick in Co. Mayo. It was unveiled by President Mary Robinson in 1996. Other major commissions include the Flight of the Earls Monument, Rathmullen, Co Donegal (2007) and Wings of the World in Shenzhen Airport, China (1992). Notable public collections include Dublin City Gallery: the Hugh Lane, the Crawford Municipal Gallery, Cork, the National Gallery of Ireland and the Arts Councils of Ireland, North and South.
Please contact Sean Cannon at The Western Light Art Gallery, +353 (0)98 43325 or e-mail info@achill-island.com. See John Behan’s work at www.achill-island.com or view videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/AchillArtNews
1938 Born Dublin
Studied Art in Dublin, London & Oslo
1967 Founder Member of the Project Arts Centre, Dublin
1970 Established the Dublin Art Foundry with Peter O’Brien
1973-78 Member of the Arts Council
GROUP SHOWS
1989/93 The Gordon Gallery, Derry
1988 West of Ireland Artists in Australia, Sydney & Canberra
National Museum, Valetta, Malta
1967 Project, New Artists Group, Western Australia
1960 Exhibition of Living Art
1960-88 Royal Hibernian Academy, Independent Artists Group 65,
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2010 gordon gallery, Derry
1993/98/00/02/04 Hallward Gallery, Dublin
2001 Ashford Gallery, RHA, Dublin
1983,85,87,89,92,94 The Gordon Gallery, Derry
1986,80 Taylor Gallery, Dublin
1974,76,80,82,84 Cork Art Society
1973,75,79,81,83 Kenny’s Art Gallery, Galway
1980 Bell Gallery, Belfast
1977 Octagon Gallery, Belfast
1974 Sean Desmond Gallery, New York
1967,69,71 Project Arts Centre, Dublin
COMMISSIONS
2007 “Flight of the Earls”, Monument at Rathmullen, Co Donegal
“Millennium Child”, for Barnados, cast in a limited edition of 100
2006 Circle of Birds”, The Hospice, Harolds Cross, Dublin
2003 ‘Golden Birds’ - Four Seasons Hotel, Dublin
2001 ‘Equality Emerging’ - Salmon Weir Bridge, Galway
2000 ‘Arrival’ - UN Plaza, New York
1999 ‘Twin Spires’ - NUI Galway
1997 ‘Famine Ship’ - Murrisk, Westport, Co. Mayo
1992 ‘Wins of the Wold’ - Shenzhen, China
1990 ‘Winged Man’ - Ennis, Co. Clare
1987 ‘Flight of Birds’ - Dr. T A Ryan, Co. Tipperary
1984 ‘Swan Fountain’ - Cork
1982 ‘Megalithic Memory’ - Allied Irish Bank, Dublin
1980 ‘Celtic Realm’ - Insurance Corporation of Ireland
1978 ‘Birds’ - Irish Life centre, Dublin
1975 ‘Aluminium Abstract’ - IMI Dublin
1970 ‘Tain panel’ - The Gresham Hotel, Dublin
1972 ‘IPA Wall Panel’ - Dublin
AWARDS
2006 The Ib Jorgensen Award, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
2005 ESB Silver Medal RHA
2001 Conferred Doctor of Literature by NUI, Galway
1999 Sunday Independent ‘Ford’ Award for Sculpture
1989 Elected a Member of the Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
1978 Elected a Member of Aosdana
1973 Elected an Associate of the Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
1972 Awarded the Gold Medal at the Oireachtas Exhibition
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
The Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin
Crawford Municipal Gallery, Cork
Insurance Corporation of Ireland, Dublin
National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin
An Comhairle Ealaoin / The Arts Council
Irish Club, London
IMMA
United Nations, New York
