Paul Maccormaic

I was in Dublin, Ireland, in 1961 and continue to live and work here.
I am a principally a realist painter although I make collage and photography, both of which feed my painting.
The National Gallery of Ireland recently purchased my Portrait of Catherine Corless for their permanent collection.
I believe that the visual arts, like music, have the ability to communicate concepts directly to an international audience, without the need for translations or interpretation. The image, combined with a title, can be immediate and powerful and can transmit ideas, and ideas are the basis of all art.

My personal vision is to make iconic memorable images that have a universal timeless appeal. The universal themes of love, hatred, social justice and the environment run through my work as a constant narrative. My work is informed by my wide variety of interests, especially science, nature, psychology and anthropology. My sources are advertisement, magazines and TV as well as direct observation. I filter out trends and attitudes to make exaggerations that create a drama that unfolds as a 21st century baroque. I use painting and photography with strong lighting and cinematic angles to create scenarios that have their finger on the pulse o...

BA (hons) University College Dublin (UCD) in History of Art and BA Hons in Fine Art from Dún Laoghaire IADT (Institute of Art Design and Technology),

2022, Icons II, The Courthouse Arts Centre, Tinahely, Co. Wicklow.
2021, Food Fight, The Séamus Ennis Arts Centre, The Naul, County Dublin
2017 The Secular Icons, Axis, Ballymun, Dublin , Ireland.
A solo exhibution in a public art space featuring 22 icons on the subject of ethics, idealism and social justice.