Micheal Farrell
Une rétrospective

One of the key Irish artists of his generation, Micheal Farrell (1940-2000) left Ireland for Paris in 1971, where he moved into the famous studios of La Ruche; like many exiles, however, he kept a sharp eye on his native country throughout his career. His exceptional draughtsmanship and ability to incorporate different artistic strands literally transformed the face of Irish art. His early work was characterised by abstract formalism, in the vein of Frank Stella who he met during an intense year spent in New York. Fiercely political, his reaction to the outbreak of the Troubles in the early 1970s led him towards far greater figuration. His acerbic wit and subversive views on Irish history, identity and culture (evident in his notorious Madonna Irlanda series) form the backbone of this selection of paintings and works on paper on exhibition at the CCI.