The Artist

Liam O’Neill

Liam O'Neill was born in Corca Dhuibhne, in West Kerry in 1954 and is among Ireland’s most celebrated contemporary artists. He paints using a palette knife to capture the iconic imagery of his own place - It’s wind beaten harbours, coastal fishermen, farmers and musicians are among his subject matter.

Liam O’Neill enjoys painting the colour and movement of horse racing events and fairs.

He also pays particular attention to portraiture; capturing the essence of literary figures such as James Joyce and Samuel Beckett. Almost sculpturally he carves their characteristic features and reveals the human and emotional essence behind what are well recognised public faces. O’Neill is interested in the nature of portraits and how a famous face can become broadly familiar and simultaneously depersonalized in the public eye. Through the process of looking and realizing these faces with paint, O’Neill reintroduces the humanity in these significant people.

Liam O’Neill has gone back home to live in West Kerry again after thirty years in Dublin. When he paints scenes of Kerry his own relationship with the landscape appears time and time again. His direct connection with his home place provides him with endless reasoning to paint his surroundings.

O’Neill says of his home place “I paint that which makes this area unique, the special views: Brandon, The Blaskets, and The Three Sisters, they are the backbone of the place from which it takes its structure. They are powerful symbols. Then there are the fields, the walls, the people and the animals.”

Liam O’Neill has exhibited widely over the past thirty years including Dingle, Dublin, London, Paris, New York and San Francisco.

Solo Exhibitions

1991 Oisin Gallery, Dublin

1992 Gallery Alexander, Florida USA

1994 Greenlane Gallery, Dingle

1997 The James Gallery, Dublin

2000 Greenlane Gallery ,Dingle

2003 The James Gallery,Dublin

2005 Writers Week, Listowel

2006 Greenlane Gallery, Dingle

2007 Writers Week, Listowel

2008 The James Gallery Dublin

2009 Portland Gallery London Summer Show.

2010 Sol Art Gallery, Dublin

2011 Gormleys Fine Art Gallery, Dublin

2012 Writers Week, Listowel

2012 Oriel Gallery, Dublin

2013 London Irish Exhibition, London

2014 London Irish Exhibition, London

2015 Oriel Gallery, Dublin

2016 Consulate General of Ireland, New York

Private Collections and Commissions

The Lord Mayor of Dublin

Ballydoyle Stables

Coolmore Stud

Kerry Group Plc.

Denis Brosnan, Chairman Horse Racing Ireland

Croom House Stud

Jean Kennedy Smith, US Ambassador

Robert De Nero

Charles J. Haughey

The Central Bank of Ireland

E.S.B. Head Office