The death has been announced of Irish artist Richard Gorman.
Gorman was a painter, sculptor and printmaker whose career spanned more than four decades and whose work was exhibited widely in Ireland and internationally.
Born in Dublin in 1946, Gorman initially studied business at Trinity College Dublin before deciding to pursue a career in art. He later enrolled at Dún Laoghaire School of Art and Design, from which he graduated in 1980. That same year, his work was selected for inclusion in the Irish Exhibition of Living Art, a yearly exhibition of Irish abstract expressionism and avant-garde Irish art, where it was shown again in 1981, marking his early emergence within the Irish contemporary art scene.
In 1983, Gorman held his first solo exhibition at the Project Gallery in Dublin. Over the following decades, he developed a sustained international practice, travelling extensively and dividing his time between Ireland, Italy and Japan. His work was shown in numerous solo and group exhibitions during this period, contributing to his reputation as a committed abstract artist with a distinctive visual language.
In 2023, The Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin presented Living through paint(ing), a major exhibition of Gorman's recent work, coinciding with more than 40 years of professional activity as an exhibiting artist.
Gorman’s work was characterised by abstraction and a focus on colour, structure and balance. His practice drew on sustained observation of landscape, architecture and everyday environments, which he translated into paintings, sculptures and prints.
In addition to his studio practice, Gorman was involved in teaching and mentorship, contributing to the development of other artists through formal and informal means. He was closely associated with the Kerlin Gallery in Dublin, where his work was represented for many years.
In a statement, the Kerlin Gallery said: 'It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Richard Gorman. It is also with a deep sense of gratitude and joy that we celebrate the time we shared together. For over three decades, we have had the honour of knowing and working with Richard, an artist of integrity, intelligence and grace.'
