Tullamore artist's exhibition continues in Dublin

A solo exhibition of new paintings by Tullamore artist David Fox is currently on display at the Olivier Cornet Gallery in Dublin.

'Urban Fingerprint' will feature a new series of paintings depicting street art and graffiti from across Ireland and will be exhibited until Friday, December 10.

The exhibition features three depictions of Offaly landmarks in Tullamore and Edenderry. The first painting is of the Railway Bridge with graffiti over the Grand Canal Greenway in Tullamore.

Another Tullamore scene is depicted in David's painting of oil tanks with graffiti at Tullamore Train Station. David said: “I recall one day waiting to board the train on my way back to Dublin and when I looked behind me I noticed the graffiti tagging which is very similar to that of the tags I've seen across the country.”

The final painting which portrays a landmark in Offaly is that of the Grand Canal Bridge in Edenderry. The exhibition also features four other paintings which illustrate scenes in Dublin and Belfast.

David explained: “I was always fascinated by the idea of art in the public realm, being outdoors and on the streets.

I suppose it's this idea of opposing worlds, one where I would make art in a conventional sense, indoors on canvas and within a confined studio environment.

“Then there's the street artists who have invented a different platform for their means of expression by using the city as a canvas.

I find that idea really interesting, and given the recent up trend and level of commercial success some of the greater street artists receive, I suppose that's what poked me in the direction of this new project. I feel the spotlight is now on street art and I'm enjoying it as much as everyone else.”

'Urban Fingerprint' is David’s second solo exhibition at the Olivier Cornet Gallery. He has become renowned for his compelling connection with the contemporary Irish landscape, where in recent work he captures the vibrant essence of graffiti within the bustling cities of Ireland. Working primarily with oil paints, the Offaly native brings these walls and alleys to life on canvas, transforming the often-overlooked art of graffiti into evocative pieces that resonate with a modern audience.

The exhibition officially opened on Friday, November 10 with guest speaker James Hanley who is one of Ireland's most prominent artists and a member of the Royal Hibernian Academy.

On Sunday last as part of Dublin Gallery Weekend's series of events, the gallery hosted 'Food for Thought', a discussion with food and chat.

David also spoke with arts journalist Cathy Dillon who has written about street art. They examined David’s current body of work in the context of street art.

The exhibition of paintings will also be available online as the public will be able to enter the Olivier Cornet Gallery's 3D virtual space to view the paintings there.

This project was funded by the Arts Council of Ireland.

For more information on the exhibition visit www.oliviercornetgallery.com or follow @Artist David Fox on Facebook.