A retrospective exhibition celebrating the work of artist Graham Knuttel takes place in the Minerva Suite at The RDS, Dublin this Sepember - Graham's wife Ruth Knuttell shares her thoughts on the forthcoming exhibition, and revisits some highlights of his glittering career.
A lot has been written about Graham, both personally and professionally. He is loved and missed beyond words. But this exhibition is about celebrating his life’s work, from his early days to his last work, and honouring the brilliant, diverse talent that made him who he was.
There are so many special and stand-out moments of his career and we have done our best to represent his work in this retrospective. Here are my personal highlights...
The Taoisigh Painting (above) garnered huge publicity in 1999, for me though it was special for a different reason. I had opened a restaurant across the road from his house, he used to visit regularly and one day he asked where there was no art on the walls – which was down to my lack of budget. He didn’t waste a second before insisting I follow him back to his house. Together, we carried over a set of Taoisigh prints he had completed in 1999, and before I knew it, he was hanging them himself. And that’s where it all started on my life with Graham.
In 2001 Graham teamed up with Viscount Linley, Queen Eliabeth’s nephew, to make 12 chess sets, each piece was solid silver. The limited edition Chess Set attracted huge national and international attention and will play centre piece to the exhibition.
In 2003 Graham was one two Irish artists who have had their works woven in Aubusson, a medieval town in France famed for its tapestries. A personal favourite of mine is his Stills Tapestry (2006). There will be a number of tapis at the exhibition for sale.
No exhibition would be complete without his renowned bronzes, his bronze Foal Sculpture (2007), will be on display. For years there was a pile of coats in one of the downstairs rooms and one day I decided to hang them up and found the beautiful foal hidden beneath!
Graham always had a grá for the sea, he used to fish with his dad as a youngster and in 2010 decided to feature fish in his collection with his Riverside Fish American Oak (2010)
Smoke in the Kitchen (2023) is probably the most poignant one for me as it is the final painting that Graham painted before his premature death at the age 69 on May 27th, 2023.
Graham Knuttel Retrospective (1954-2023) runs 19th – 21st September 2025 at the Minerva Suite in the RDS, Dublin
