Graduating from Crawford School of Art in 1957 John O'Leary was awarded a Gibson Bequest Scholarship and spent the following year in France where he studied at the Atelier d'André Lhote following in the footsteps of Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone. However, instead of adopting the predominant cubist doctrinaire style, O'Leary was impressed by the teachings of the Russian abstract painter Serge Poliakoff. Although his earlier works explore the line and the figurative it is clear O'Leary's later works reveal the extent of his absorption and passion of the abstract.
Equally, John O'Leary was a fundamental influence on many of today's successful contemporary artists. Having taught in both the Crawford School of Art and the Sligo Regional Technical College, his tuition was strongly based on direct observation and drawing from nature yet one in which he encouraged self-reliance on the part of the student. O'Leary was also instrumental in evolving Ireland's leading small works exhibition - Iontas.
John O'Leary Retrospective will tour to two further venues - Sligo Art Gallery and Model Arts and Niland Gallery - both exhibiting concurrently from May 29 - June 21. The retrospective will feature over eighty works drawn from private and public collections and, in addition, will feature previously unseen sketches and photographs from the Estate of John O'Leary which provide an evocative insight to O'Leary's genuine commitment to the study and teaching of art.
A catalogue will be published to accompany the exhibition.
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