limited edition prints of Martin Finnin
There is no way to describe a person better than to let her describe herself. So here is how Martin Finnin describes himself:
“I am an Irish artist living and working in Cork. Apart from a stint as an apprentice bee-keeper and a tea boy on many London building sites I have been working as a full-time artist since I had my first show in a gallery in Mexico aged twenty. (I did not make it across the Rio Grande but that’s a story for another day)”
Solo Exhibitions
- 2012 Dust, Dots and a Day in the Maze, John Martin Gallery, London
- 2010 49 Ox Hides and a Lump of Faith, John Martin Gallery, London
- 2009 (Hairy hearts of heroes), Origin Gallery, Dublin
- 2008 Turn the Lemon Page, Cill Rialig Arts Centre, Ballinskelligs, Kerry
- 2007 A snippet from the seventh soup, Vangard Gallery, Cork
- 2006 The world is blue like an orange, New Urban Retreat Gallery, Dublin
- Stepping out of the stream of time, Printmakers Gallery, Limerick
- Life beyond the hedge, Cill Rialaig Art Centre, Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry
- 2005 A miracle outside the window, Form Gallery, London
- The Marching Hugs, Origin Gallery, Dublin
- Meanwhile a foreign land, Vangard Gallery, Cork
- 2003 The origins of optimism, Printmakers Gallery, Limerick
- Songs of a recluse, Vangard Gallery, Cork
- In Fall, Ashford Gallery, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin; Printmakers Gallery, Limerick
- 2002 Vermont Studio Gallery, Vermont
- 2001 A subtle consolation of existance, Vangard Gallery, Cork
- The Big Picture, Printmakers Gallery, Limerick
- 1997 Forest of Banquets, Tig Filí Gallery, Cork
- 1996 Spionza, Blackcombe Gallery, Cork
- Triskel Art Centre, Cork
- 1995 Ivory Tower Restaurant, Cork
- Jo Rain Gallery, Dublin
- 1994 Art Hive, Cork
- 1993 Blackcombe Gallery, Cork
- Lost Boys Coffee Shop, Harlem, Holland
- 1991 Everyman Palace, Cork
- 1990 Iveagh Markets, Dublin
- 1988 La Galleria Lucierna, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
- 2009 Jack Donovan and Martin Finnin, Printmakers Gallery, Limerick
- 2008 Killarney Gallery, Killarney, Dublin
- Art London, John Martin Gallery, London
- 2007 Colourfields, an driocht, Dublin
- Art London, John Martin Gallery, London
- Royal Hibernian Academy (Summer Show)
- 2006 Cill Rialaig Arts Centre, Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry
- Tribute to Beckett, Vangard Gallery, Cork
- 2004-05 The People’s Gallery, Cork
- 2003 Myth and Magic, Lavit Gallery, Cork
- 2002 RHA Annual Exhibition, RHA Gallagher
- 2001 Sligo Art Gallery; Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast
- Crawford Art Gallery, Cork
- 2000 Tom Climent, Martin Finnin, Brian Smyth, Lavit Gallery, Cork
- 1998 Sense of Cork, Crawford Art Gallery, Cork
RESIDENCIES
- 2009 Dedaldo Art Competition, Tuscany
- 2008 Cill Rialig Art Centre, Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry (artist’s residency; also 2005, 2006)
- 2004 Dedaldo Art Competition, Tuscany (also 2005,2006; 1st prize, 2004)
- Cill Rialaig Art Centre, Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry (artist’s residency; also 2005, 2006)
- 2002 Vermont Studio Center, USA(painting scholarship)
- Department of Foreign Affairs (Cultural Relations Committee Award)
- Vermont Studio Center, USA (fellowship award)
- 1998 Nominated by Crawford Art Gallery for Glen Dimplex
- Sense of Cork, Crawford Art Gallery, Cork (prizewinner)
- 1995 An Chomhairle Ealaion / The Arts Council bursaries (studio rental, 1995, 2001; materials grant, 1997,2001;Artflight, 1996)
THE FOUR CYCLES of CELTIC MYTHOLOGY
MARTIN FINNIN
Reading this material I came to realise that it is almost impossible to simply choose three pieces out of each cycle, so I had to allow the pieces to chose themselves. Each cycle has one large main piece and two smaller pieces
the celtic mythological cycle
It begins with the coming of Cesair, the granddaughter of Noah. Noah would not let her on the boat because she was a bit saucy so she built her own ship and sailed across the sea. The Nemedians, named after their leader Nemed (holy/ sacred) left their land with 34 ships. On their journey they saw a huge golden tower rising out of the sea. Driven by greed, most of the fleet approached the tower. Suddenly a great torrent rose causing the loss of the fleet. Only the chief and his ship survived. This magical tribe arrived with their flying ships on the Irish coast. They were initially unable to land because of an energy field created by another tribe, the Formorians. They had to circle Ireland nine times before they found their way through. Its rumored that they destroyed their own ships upon entry to make a retreat impossible.

The Flight Of Fiontain

The Rise and Fall of the Nemidians

The arrival Of The Tuatha De Danan
the Ulster cycle

Scatach giving cuchulainn the gae bolga

Cuchulainn fighting morrigan the shape shifter

Cuchulainn versus Fiar Diad
Fenian cycle

The Fairy Palace of the quicken trees

The travel to Tir na nog

Salmon of knowledge
the historical cycle

Flying from the Battle field

A Vision of the Birdman
