In The Studio - Francis McCrory Painting

Born in Belfast in 1983, Francis McCrory is one of Ireland's most exciting young Artists. A Fine Arts Graduate of the University of Ulster, he has received awards for 'Best Emerging Artist'...twice!...the Diageo Award in 2006, and again in 2007 with the prestigious KPMG Award for Best Emerging Artist at the Royal Ulster Academy Exhibition. In 2011, Francis was honoured at the Belfast Media Groups annual 'Top 40 Under 40' ceremony at Queens University. His first two shows at Belfast's Belmont Tower and The Emer Gallery the year after, were sell-outs. The year after that he had his first highly succussful solo exhibition with Gormleys Fine art whom he continues to exhibit with and he is already included in a number of major private collections. His style is unique, powerful, challenging. He creates breath-taking and poignant mixed media assemblages which compel the viewer to consider urban decay and neglect in a different light. His paintings and subject matter reflect Francis' artistic influences....the haunting canvases of Edward Hopper, the urban wastelands of Scottish artist Jock McFadyen, Avril Paton's take on urban life and the raw documentary style of American photographers, Stephen Shore and Joel Sternfeld. Francis cites Colin Davidson as his favourite Artist. Francis' works are original, highly competent and boldly painted; their intriguing and sometimes lonely horizons convey an ambiguous mood. They are not just a deadpan depiction of the actual. They reflect that critical balance between seeing and feeling which the very best documentary artists seek to achieve.
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