Artists keep it in the family for hospital show

Date Published: 17-Mar-2011

Oil and Water, an exhibition of new paintings by brother and sister, James Horan and Mary Horan is currently on display in the Arts Corridor of University Hospital Galway. The exhibition was formally opened by Dr Robert Coughlan last Friday.

The siblings, who come from Galway, have both exhibited their work extensively and their art is in collections at home and abroad.

James studied architecture at The Dublin Institute of Technology Bolton Street and has practised as an architect since 1974.

Throughout his career he has been producing drawings and paintings of buildings and other subjects. His current work consists mainly of watercolours and pen and ink drawings. James’s art work has been exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy Dublin and the Royal Academy London. His work can be found in the collections of the OPW, Courts of Criminal Justice, Dáil Éireann, Dublin Castle, Aer Rianta, Dermot Desmond, Michael Smurfit, Van Morrison, Dublin Institute of Technology.

He is currently the Professor of Architecture at The Dublin School of Architecture, DIT and Adjunct Professor at the North Carolina State University, as well as being Director of the Architectural Practice, Design Strategies, in Dublin. James’s works can be viewed at www.jameshoran.ie.

His sister, Mary who has recently opened her own art gallery in Moycullen, is a full time artist. Her work is very much influenced by the sea and her seascapes are now well recognised. Mary, who is self taught, paints primarily in oils and has also explored and developed a very exciting range of paintings around the themes of people, buildings and the abstract.

Mary has exhibited extensively in many galleries throughout the country, including Gallery Zozimus, Francis St, Dublin, the Russell Gallery, New Quay and the Kenny Gallery, Lahinch, Co Clare. She has also exhibited at special events including the Volvo Ocean Race, the Wexford Opera Festival and the RDS Art Fair.

Mary opened her own gallery, Farmlane Gallery in Moycullen village last year. The gallery is open Wednesday to Saturday from 11am – 5pm. Her work can be viewed at www.farmlanegallery.com and can be found in many private collections around the world including America, Japan, Belgium, France and Australia.

Oil and Water is open to the public until Friday April 8 at University Hospital, Galway.