Michael Hegarty

Born and now living in County Cork Ireland.

Originally graduating in fine art from the Crawford School of Art Cork in 1981, my work instinctively reflected the art ideas of the time represented by movements such as firstly The Pictures Generation and then Neo-Geometric Conceptualism. Today I see my work grounded in concepts originating in these movements.

Neo-Geo artists created artworks that were influenced by the style of earlier developments in twentieth century art –such as Minimalism, Pop Art, and Hardedge Abstraction. Grace Glueck, one of the key documenters of the movement, notes “The painters among the Neo-Geo movement consciously recycled geometric motifs of the 1960's and 70's in their canvases, but put them to new use, regarding their geometry as referential rather than abstract.”

My paintings explore formalist abstraction through a post-pop/post-modern lens. On the one hand they seek universal truths, each painting is a manifestation of what is… a specimen of existence. On the other hand, from a pop art sensibility the paintings explore the topographic nuances of consumer culture, the vagaries of taste in the use of found fabrics from domestic interiors and the rotations of fashion and obsolescence.

The oval forma...

2020-2021 MA in Fine Art, Art and Process, at MTU, Crawford Collage of Art and Design, Cork, Ireland.

2017-2018 Higher Diploma History of Art, U.C.C. Cork, Ireland.

1981 Diploma in Fine Art (Painting - Printmaking), at Crawford Municipal School of Art, Cork, Ireland.

2023-24 Place in Motion, at Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre, Skibbereen, Co. Cork.
2023 Preamble at Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre.
2022/23 Tonnta at Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre.
2022 Solo Show: Formalist Excesses at the Temperance Hall, Temperance Hall, Kinsale Arts Weekend, Co. Cork.
2021 PLUS/MINUS, MAAP 2021, MTU Crawford College of Art and Design, No. 46 Grand Parade, Cork.
2021 Creating Connection Exhibition, CCAD, No. 46 Grand Parade, Cork.
2021 Window Installation, Kinsale Arts Weekend, Co.Cork.
2020/21 Cork Artists Winter Showcase, at Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre.
2020 A Window Into/A Window Onto, Culture Night September 18th, MAAP The Gallery at No. 46 Grand Parade, Cork.
2011 Pop up Exhibition, Main St. Kinsale.
2009 City Exhibition, Irish Festival in Beijing, March 09. Tsinghua Academy of Arts Beijing.
2007 Through Irish Eyes, exhibition in September at The Beijing Institute of Graphic Communications, Beijing, China.
2007 Two Man Show, with David Dunne at Kinsale arts Week.
2006 Group Show Hallward Gallery Dublin,
2005 Solo Show at Kinsale Arts Week.
2001 Scóip 2001, at Siamsa Tire Art Centre, Tralee, Co. Kerry.
2000 The Crawford Open, Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Emmet Place, Cork.
1999 Scóip 99, at Siamsa Tire ...