Gerard Ryan 

Gerard Ryan

 

 

Gerard Ryan has a National Diploma in Fine Art, a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree, a Post Graduate Diploma and a Higher Diploma in Education from Crawford College in Cork , together with a Post Graduate Diploma and a Master of Fine Art Degree from the University of Ulster . He has also been the recipient of a number of awards, such as the Ulster Society Graduate Award, the RTE purchase prize and Aer Rianta’s Aspiring Young Artist. He has exhibited extensively in group and solo-shows throughout Ireland , most notably at the Lavitt Gallery in Cork , the Bridge Gallery in Dublin and the Dye House Gallery in Waterford .  

 

 

Gerard’s subject matter primarily consists of brightly coloured depictions of street scenes in Dublin . Working from black and white sketches, he translates this information onto canvas and employs an extreme range of artificial tones to represent permanent architectural features such as buildings, lampposts, railings, and pathways, together with decorative shop and restaurant awnings. Almost all of Gerard’s preparatory work is carried out in good weather in order to observe the intense effects of light and shadow.  

 

 

It is obvious that Gerard is a dedicated enthusiast of metropolitan life, as he does not attempt to present accurate accounts of these urban surroundings, but instead chooses to capture the spirit of a vigorous and engaging city.