A solo exhibition by the artist Pat Byrne in Tallaght Library From Under the Hill runs until the 30th of November.
Originally from Laois, Pat Byrne moved to Galway in 2006 to study at the GMIT Cluain Mhuire
Campus. Specialized in fine art painting and graduating in 2010 with a BA Honours Degree,
Patremained in Galway for a time, during his final year in college he became one of the founding
members of the artist collective, A – merge. Early in 2011, having failed to secure a studio in the
Arthouse, Stradbally, Pat was awarded a studio by Laois County Council and in March returned to
hishome county. Pat worked in Laois for just over a year before undertaking a 3 month residency in
Iceland with NES, it was at this time that folklore began to appear in his work. He returned to
Ireland and the following year he began his Masters in Fine Art at the National College of Art and
Design, Dublin, graduating in 2015. Pat is currently based in Laois where he continues to work on
his studio practice, showing both in Ireland and abroad.
Pat Byrne said “My practice explores superstitions and folklore as I look at mythological humanoids and fairies while attempting to portray them in a more realistic and contemporary fashion wanting to render them as somebody who could possibly pass us by on the street. Superstitions have always held a core place in Irish culture but as time progresses the mischievous and malevolent spirits that once occupied the spoken word and imagination are being forgotten only to be seen as figures of parody. The lack of faith in this make-believe world is something that I feel reflects the current human condition in Ireland with so many people unemployed and no structure to their daily lives, figures of folklore are effectively in the same situation and on the mythological dole queue simply living out each day completing mundane task”.
For more information see patbyrneartist.com / Instagram & Facebook @patbyrneartist
