OLIVER COMERFORD
1967 Born, Dublin
1985-86 Dun Laoghaire College of Art and Design, Dublin
1986-90 BA Fine Art, National College of Art and Design, Dublin, 1st Class Honours
1988 School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, USA
1991 Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Maine, USA
1996-97 MA Fine Art, Chelsea College of Art and Design, London
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2015 the longest road, Kevin Kavanagh Gallery, Dublin
2012 Facing North, John Martin Gallery, London*
2010 Oliver Comerford, Painting 1994-2010, RHA Gallagher Gallery, Dublin *
Oliver Comerford, John Martin Gallery, London
2009 True Romance, Kevin Kavanagh Gallery, Dublin
2008 I Can See Your House From Here, Kevin Kavanagh Gallery, Dublin
2005 Night and Day, Kevin Kavanagh Gallery, Dublin
2004 Distance, Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Dublin
2003 Out Here, Temple Bar Gallery, Dublin
Vapourtrail, Brosna/ Knocknagoshel Waterplant, Kerry *
2002 Get Here, Kevin Kavanagh Gallery, Dublin
1999 Talk To Me, The Living Art Museum, Reykjavík, Iceland *
1998 Talk To Me, Hallward Gallery, Dublin *
1996 Out Of Here, Hallward Gallery, Dublin *
1994 Paintings and Monotypes, Hallward Gallery, Dublin
1993 Skowhegan Paintings, United Arts Club, Dublin
1991 Rubicon Gallery/ Bank of Ireland Exhibition Centre, Dublin
1990 United Arts Club, Dublin
1989 Bravos Gallery, Georgetown, Massachusetts, USA
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019 Distance, Dorsky Gallery Curatorial Programs, New York curated by Betsy Alwin and Steve Locke
Silver, Kevin Kavanagh Gallery, Dublin
2018 'It's Happening Now' The Art Society, London curated by Sara Bjornsdottir
The Long Summer Show, John Martin Gallery, London*
RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin*
2017 International Serigraphy Symposium Ostrava, Czech Republic
2015 This lasted until dawn, Wexford Arts Centre/Wexford County Council
2014 Instant Crush, Kevin Kavanagh Gallery, Dublin
2013 The Poetry Project.ie
Toronto International Art Fair, Toronto Canada
2012 Last, Douglas Hyde Gallery, curated by John Hutchinson *
Anna Berger, Oliver Comerford, Diana Copperwhite, Kevin Kavanagh Gallery
2011 In a Place in Time, VISUAL Center for Contemporary Art, Carlow.
Room Outside, Kevin Kavanagh Gallery, Dublin
Arte Fiera Bologna - International exhibition of contemporary art 2011, Bologna
Art Athina 2011-International Contemporary Art Fair, Athens
RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin *
2010 Sovereign European Art Prize, Barbican Centre, London *
What Happens Next is a Secret, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin, curated by Marguerite O'Molloy *
Tulca: Living on the Edge, People, Place and Possibility, Galway Arts Centre, Galway, curated by Michelle Browne
John Martin Gallery, London
RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin*
2009 Terror and Sublime: Art in an Age of Anxiety, Crawford Gallery, Cork, curated by Peter Murray *
Portable Histories, Irish Museum of Modern Art / Wexford Arts Centre
RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin *
2008 10,000 to 50, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin *
Boyle Arts Festival, Boyle
Group Therapy, Kevin Kavanagh Gallery, Dublin
2007 Alternative Nature, Irish Museum of Modern Art/ Cavan County Museum
Manscape, South Tipperary Arts Centre, curated by Martin Drury *
The Garden of Eden Has Vanished, Cavan County Museum, Cavan, curated by
Cliodhna Shaffrey
2006 Art and Idea, Comox Valley Art Gallery, Vancouver, Canada *
IMMA: Outside by Us, Irish Museum of Modern Art/ Áras an Chontae, Tullamore *
Reality Show, Siamsa Tíre Arts Centre, Tralee, curated by Gemma Tipton
Seeing is Believing, Kevin Kavanagh Gallery, Dublin, curated by Jacqui Macintosh *
2005 Tir na nÓg, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin, curated by Marguerite O'Molloy and Catherine Marshall *
Eurojet Futures Anthology, RHA Gallagher Gallery, Dublin, curated by Patrick T Murphy *
2005 After The Thaw, Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Cork, curated By Frances Ruane and Peter Murray *
A Moment in Time, Temple Bar Gallery, Dublin, curated by Noel Kelly
2004 Bearings, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin, curated by Marguerite O'Molloy *
2003 Perspective 03, Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast curated by Enrique Juncosa
Affinity Archive, Broadstone Studios, Dublin, curated by Sarah Pierce
The National Gallery, Goethe Institute, Dublin, curated by Grant Watson and Vaari Claffey
RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin
2002 Landscape Now… Paton Gallery, London
Eurojet Futures, RHA Gallagher Gallery, Dublin, curated by Patrick T Murphy *
Crawford Open 2, Crawford Municipal Gallery of Art, Cork *
ART2002, Kevin Kavanagh Gallery, London
An Leabhar Mòr, The Great Book of Gaelic, Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow *
RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin *
2001 Adeste, Draíocht, Dublin
EV+A 2001, 'Expanded', Limerick, curated by Salah Hassan *
2000 Adeste, The Ark, Dublin
1999 Non-Stop Opening, Central Point Gallery, London
EV+A 99, 'Reduced,' Limerick, curated by Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn *
Adhocracy, Galerie Herold, Bremen, Germany
Royal Overseas League Open Exhibition, London, Edinburgh, Manchester
1998 EV+A 98, 'Circus ZZ' Limerick, curated by Paul O' Reilly *
Skowhegan, David Beitzel Gallery, New York
Art 98, Paton Gallery, London Contemporary Art Fair
RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin *
1997 Four Artists, Paton Gallery, London
Critics View, Banquet Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
Open Minds, AIB Art on tour, City Hall, Waterford
1996 Victor Treacy Awards Exhibition, Butler Gallery, Kilkenny *
NCAD 250 Years Drawing Exhibition, Dublin *
1995 The World of Art, UNESCO, Paris, France *
1995,96 Boyle Arts Festival, Boyle
1995 Monaghan Open Exhibition, Monaghan County Museum
1990,92,94-97 Academy Without Walls, RHA Banquet Exhibition, RHA, Dublin
1990-96 RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin *
1994 Éigse Arts Festival, Carlow
Claremorris Open, Co Mayo
1993-94 Aer Rianta Arts Festival, Dublin
1990-93 Oireachtas Exhibition, Dublin
1990-93 Íontas, Sligo Art Gallery
* denotes publication
PUBLIC ART COMMISSIONS
2004 Distance, PerCent for Art Commission for a digital artwork for dissemination via broadband, to mark the rollout of Broadband Communications infrastructure in Ireland Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
Digital Video, 6.46mins, looped, and interactive website
2003 Vapourtrail, PerCent for Art Commission for Kerry County Council
Commission for an arts project for the villages of Brosna and Knocknagoshel.
Artworks based on the environment of the local area; Colour Publication, including photo essay and 8 artworks; Residency and Public Exhibition to coincide with opening of water treatment plant.
AWARDS
2010 Represented Ireland, Sovereign European Art Prize, Barbican Centre, London
Arts Council Visual Arts Bursary
2002 Arts Council Visual Arts Bursary
2001 Project Studio Award, Temple Bar Gallery and Studios
1999 Arts Council Visual Arts Bursary
1999 Cultural Relations Committee Grant, Department of Foreign Affairs
1998 Arts Council Visual Arts Bursary
Cultural Relations Committee Grant, Department of Foreign Affairs
EV+A 98, Open Award
1997 Arts Council Materials/ Documentation Grant
1996 Dublin Corporation Visual Arts Bursary
1996 Arts Council Postgraduate Award
1995 Nominated by the Arts Council to represent Ireland,
UNESCO Prize for the Promotion of the Arts, Paris
Cultural Relations Committee Grant, Department of Foreign Affairs
Art Flight, Arts Council Travel Award
Abbey Stained Glass Studio Award, RHA
1994 Arts Council Materials/ Documentation Grant
1993 Arts Council Materials/ Documentation Grant
1992 Art Flight, Arts Council Travel Award
1991 Fellowship, The Skowhegan School, Maine, USA
Art Flight, Arts Council Travel Award
Arts Council Materials/ Documentation Grant
1990 Emerging Artist Award, RTÉ/ Bank of Ireland Arts Show Awards
National Portrait Awards, Under 35 Award
COLLECTIONS
Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin City Gallery -The Hugh Lane, Office of Public Works, The Arts Council of Ireland, University College Cork Art Collection-Lewis Glucksman Gallery, The Devonshire Collection-Chatsworth House, University of Limerick-National Self Portrait Collection, Glucksman Artists' Book collection, Dublin City University, Allied Irish Banks, Bank of Ireland, KBC Bank Ireland, KPMG, Société Générale - FIMAT, First National Building Society, Kerry County Council, Department Communication, Marine and Natural Resources.
Private Collections in Ireland, Britain, Australia and USA
RESIDENCIES
1997-98 Artists' Work Programme, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin
1994-95 Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Annaghmakerrig, Monaghan
PUBLICATIONS/REVIEWS
'Get Out' Oliver Comerford, Activating Art Education, European Fine Art forum biennial conference "Art Future/ Future Signs" Art Academy of Latvia,Riga 11September 2019.
'Chilly Vistas' Aidan Dunne, Irish Times, 15 September 2015
'Art and Architecture of Ireland,' Vol. V, ed. Marshall, C and Murray, P, 2014, Yale University Press/ Royal Irish Academy
'Established Principles-Which Irish Artists will stand the test of time?' Top Ten listing, Sunday Times 20 April 2014
Diamonds on the Windscreen, essay by Fintan O'toole, Monograph 'Oliver Comerford Painting 1994-2010
Swerving to solitude, essay by Declan Long, Monograph 'Oliver Comerford Painting 1994-2010
'Oliver Comerford Painting 1994-2010,' The View RTÉ1 Television, 27 April 2010
'Faint Lights in the Darkness', Aidan Dunne, Irish Times, 14 April 2010
'Owner of Lonely Art,' Sue Conley, Evening Herald, 25 March 2010'
'True Romance,' Kate Butler, Sunday Times, 15 November 2009
'Art into Artisan,' Gemma Tipton, Irish Times Magazine, 14 November 2009
'I can see your house from here,' Kate Butler, Sunday Times, 20 April 2008
'Artist Firmly in the Driving Seat,' Cristin Leach, Sunday Times, 1 May 2005
'Out Here,' Catherine Lean, Sunday Times, 17 August 2003
'Asserting Personal Identity,' Aidan Dunne, Irish Times, 23 July 2003
Vapourtrail, commissioned by Kerry County Council, 2003
'Looking at the Spaces behind the Town,' Aidan Dunne, Irish Times, 12 April 2002
'Getting to the Point,' Marianne Hartigan, Sunday Tribune, 14 April 2002
'Get Here,' Anne Iremonger, The Dubliner Magazine, April 2002
'Get Here,' The View, RTÉ1 Television, 9 April 2002
Interview with Anna Sigrídur Einarsdóttir, Morgunbladid, Iceland, 31 July 1999
Review, Gunnar J. Árnason, Morgunbladid, Iceland, 13 August, 1999
'Images Of Nothing,' Aidan Dunne, Irish Times, 11 November 1998
In Transit, essay by Catherine Marshall, Senior Curator of the Collection,
Irish Museum of Modern Art, 1998
'Talk to Me,' Marianne Hartigan, Sunday Tribune, 8 November 1998
'Talk to Me,' Marian Lovett, Sunday Times, 8 November 1998
'Out of Here,' Medb Ruane, Sunday Times, 17 March 1996
'Out of Here,' Brian Fallon, Irish Times, 22 March 1996
Out Of Here, essay by Fintan O'Toole, Journalist and Arts Correspondent, The Irish Times, 1996
Interview with Seamus Hosey and review by Caoimhín Mac Giolla Léith, The Arts Show,
RTÉ Radio 1, June 1994
'Oliver Comerford, Hallward Gallery,' Brian Fallon, Irish Times, 29 June 1994
'Dark On The Edge Of Town,' Aidan Dunne, Sunday Tribune, 19 June 1994
Art Attacks, documentary directed by Ferdia Mac Anna, broadcast on RTÉ Television, October 1993, August 1995 and as part of 'The Art Files,' 1997
'Worlds Where Even A Chair Can Tell A Story,' Aidan Dunne, Sunday Tribune, June 1991
'Young Artist at the Bank of Ireland,' Brian Fallon, Irish Times, 27 June 1991
OTHER
Lecturer and Course Director, BA Fine Art, IT Carlow (Wexford Campus)
Member of Academic Council, Academic Regulations Committee, IT Carlow
BOARDS
Board member of Wexford Arts Centre
Chair of Visual Arts Advisory Committee, Wexford Arts Centre