Derek Fitzpatrick

Artist StatementI see the figure and the landscape as the ultimate symbols to project my use of paint/material upon. They represent the most fundamental and basic struggles 'to be'. I am trying to preserve a moment in time and capture an instant of life in paint. At the moment, I am concerned with the form and structure of the human body, especially the head as it encompasses the feelings and emotions that can be seen through the face. My paintings do not aim to illustrate specific heads or landscapes rather they use the form of a figure or a landscape as a vehicle to allow for a looser more subjective exploration of the tactile quality of paint. The paintings do not represent real spaces but rather the work could be seen as an attempt to give the sense of a psychological state. I am interested in the mediums potential to portray feelings. The paintings sometimes include features which can be identified as belonging to the figure or landscape but often develop into something entirely abstract.The paintings are not pre-planned and develop intuitively out of the physical process of manipulating paint. Each brush stroke is informed by the one that preceded it. A single brushstroke can completely change a painting. The process for ...

Derek FitzpatrickC.V.Born in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, 1983.Education2002-2006Dublin Institute of Technology, BA Fine Art (Hons.) Selected ExhibitionsSolo2009Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny2008Signal Arts Centre, BrayIvy House, Drumcondra, Dublin2007Cavan Arts Centre, CavanCarlinn Gallery, CarlingfordGroup2010Ancient Palaces, International group show at Villa Tittoni in Milan in June.Dunlavin Arts Festival.Group painting at the Sycamore Arts Club.2009Red Rua , Two-Person, Dublin.2008Emerging Artist Award, Backstage Arts Centre, LongfordRoyal Ulster Academy Annual Show, BelfastSummer show, Hallward Gallery, DublinEnniskillen Visual Arts Festival, Higher Bridges Gallery, Co. FermanaghWhite Rabbit Productions, Cavan2007Winter Group Show, Hallward Gallery, Dublin.Fresh Faces, Ivy House, Drumcondra, DublinSummer Group Show, Hallward Gallery, DublinFigure and Landscape, La Cathedral, Dublin (two person)Loft Gallery, Dublin Dunlavin Annual Arts Festival, Dunlavin2006RDS Student Art Awards Exhibition, DublinDIT Graduate show, St Joseph's Convent, Dublin Awards2008 Shortlisted for Backstage Theatre Emerging Artists Award2006The Cill Rialaig Studio Residency Scholarship for a Young Emerging Artist.CollectionsPublic Collection.OPW, Dublin. Ca...