‘The Dance of Life’ - A trio exhibition at KCAT during Kilkenny Arts Festival

An exhibition of work by established KCAT studio artists Thomas Barron, Declan Byrne and Sinéad Fahey is taking place at the KCAT studios as part of the Kilkenny Arts Festival programme.

These three artists have alignments in the way the surface of their paintings is compositionally broken up into patches of colour. KCAT is exploring these similarities in the artists’ work, teasing out processes and examining how they represent the world around them in their painting.

‘The Dance of Life’ explores the relationships between mark-making, colour, and form by these artists. All three take in the world around them, using expressive forms with bold colours that communicate their deepest thoughts and emotions.

‘The Dance of Life’ is curated by Sinéad Keogh. Keogh states of the exhibition;

“I am delighted to present in this show, a fascinating look at the work of these three powerful contemporary Irish artists and their relationship with one another.”

Thomas Barron is a founding member of the KCAT art studio. He has exhibited work internationally for two decades, including at the Kaarisilta Gallery - Finland, Beyond Festival - Leeds in the UK and Art Brut Biennale - The Netherlands. He has also shown extensively in Ireland and his work also features in several publications. Thomas has spent many years honing his method for creating beautifully composed and colourful abstract paintings. These often involve large blocks of colour placed side by side in uniform or variable patterns. He begins each work by drawing directly onto the canvas with pencil.

Curator Sinéad Keogh states of his work: “Thomas Barron is master of composition who possesses the remarkable gift of achieving an always striking and distinctive palette.”

Declan Byrne has been a member of the KCAT studio since 2004, where he has developed a unique and dedicated body of work in painting, drawing, and sculpture. He has shown internationally, including at UNT Art Galleries - Dallas, Texas, the Beyond Festival - Leeds, UK, and Project Ability Gallery - Glasgow, Scotland. Byrne has also shown extensively in Ireland and his work has been featured alongside the work of his KCAT colleagues in the feature documentary ‘Living Colour’ by Wild Fire Productions.

Anna O'Sullivan, Director of Butler Gallery, Kilkenny has stated of Byrne's work: “Declan Byrne's celebratory paintings, realised in a kaleidoscope of colour, are rich with detail and steer the viewer to far-flung destinations. These complicated intricate paintings are worked on over long periods of time employing a private visual vocabulary that is remarkable.”

Sinéad Fahey has been a member of the KCAT studio for 22 years. She has shown work internationally, including at the Beyond Festival - Leeds, UK; Kaarisilta Gallery - Helsinki, Finland and Kunsthaus Kannen - Munster, Germany. Fahey has also shown extensively in Ireland, including at the F.E. McWilliam Gallery, Banbridge; Farmleigh House Gallery, Dublin; and Uillinn, West Cork Arts Centre. Fahey’s multi-coloured animation-like works convey the deep connection and empathy she feels with people and the natural world. ”

A tactile tour for audiences who are blind and visually also  takes place on August 19. No booking required.

The exhibition runs until August 25.