Eamon Colman
Eamon Colman
Born in Dublin in 1957, Eamon Colman studied in the Trinity College, Dublin Art Workshop and the National College of Art and Design, Dublin, beginning a full-time professional career in 1979. He was Chairperson of the Artists Association of Ireland (1993-1995) and elected President of The European Council of Artists (1995-2000). Having created over forty solo exhibitions, presented nationally and internationally, he is considered one of Ireland’s most important painters. In recognition of his major contribution to Irish culture, Eamon Colman was elected a member of Aosdána in 2007 and to the Toscairi in 2018.
In 1997, at the age of 39 years, he was invited to host a major mid-term retrospective exhibition of his work entitled ‘Post Cards Home’ at the Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin. This was accompanied by a monograph on his work by writer and art critic Brian McAvera entitled ‘Dreams from The Lions Head, The Work of Eamon Colman’ published by Four Fields Press. A 25-year retrospective of his work is featured in a substantial publication by Gandon Editions, Kinsale entitled ‘Profile 25 – Eamon Colman’ (2006). In 1989, he won First Prize Painting Award in EVA International; in 2001 First Prize Painting Award in Eigse, Carlow Arts Festival; in 2002, he was the first Irish artist to be awarded Full Fellowship Award from The Vermont Studio Centre, USA; in 2005, he won a CCAT Interreg Major Award for touring an exhibition in Wales and in 2018 was awarded a Culture Ireland GB18 Award.
He has held numerous solo exhibitions in museums and art galleries throughout Ireland and abroad, including: Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin (2004 - 2018); Rubicon Gallery, Dublin (1990 - 2000); Rua Red, Dublin (2010); Temple Bar Gallery, Dublin (1986); Oriel Q Gallery, Wales, UK (2018, 2010, 2006); Stern Studio Gallery, Vienna, AT (2017, 2011); The Cecille R. Hunt Gallery, St. Louis, USA (2008); Galleri Caernarfon Cyf, Wales, UK (2007). In 2021, he exhibited at The Sasse Museum of Art, California; The Museum of Biblical Art, Dallas and at The Source Arts Centre, Co. Tipperary. His work has been included in exhibitions representing contemporary Irish Art in Brussels, Denmark, France, Spain, UK, Hong Kong, Canada, USA.
Colman’s work is represented in many major public collections including: The Arts Council of Ireland; The Northern Ireland Civil Service, The Danish Arts Council; The Office of Public Works - Government Collection; The Irish Museum of Modern Art (Gordon Lambert Collection); Tralee Regional Technical College; Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast; AIB Bank; Bank of Ireland; KPMG; Smurfit Kappa PLC; Citibank; Deutsche Bank; Accenture; Fyffes Ireland; Delta Airlines; De Vere’s private collection and various private collections worldwide.
