The Bank of Ireland Art Collection is strongest in terms of acquisitions made between c. 1969 and c. 1985. Of particular interest is the theme of Irish artists encountering and adapting different artistic movements taking place internationally and the relationship of International Modernism to an Irish situation.
The narrative will start with Norah McGuinness, founder of the Irish Exhibition of Living Art (IELA) in 1947, bringing a flavour of the School of Paris to the Dublin Art scene, In the late 1970’s IELA exhibitions were often held in the Bank of Ireland offices on Baggot Street [fact check] Artists such as George Campbell and Patrick Collins developed this, exploring a type of lyrical abstraction, still rooted in the landscape. A more assertive large-scale reaction to Modernism and Pop Art is evident in the work of Michael Farrell and Robert Ballagh. Artists such as James Coleman are also represented in the collection. Tapestries by Louis le Brocquy and Tim Goulding will add colour and diversity to the exhibition, as will sculptures by F. E. McWilliam and Gerda Fromel.
The exhibition runs from Saturday 6 August until Saturday 1 October 2005 at the Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Emmet Place, Cork
