To launch the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Alliance Française in Dublin, a collection of acclaimed work by artist Seán Hillen will be shown for the first time in Dublin since the 1990’s.

Best known for his ‘Irelantis’ series, they have since burrowed deep into Irish culture, appearing on nearly 20 book covers and in this exhibition the public will get a rare opportunity to see several of the delicate almost miniature original collages, together with a selection of a new definitive edition of archival prints.

12 February – 10 April
Admission free

Adam Baumgold Gallery presents an exhibition of drawings, paintings on paper and sculpture by Seth from February 5 through March 13, 2010. This will be Seth’s first U.S. solo exhibition and will include 50 artworks, the majority of which comprise the bulk of his celebrated Graphic Novel GEORGE SPROTT 1894-1975 (originally serialized in The New York Times Sunday Magazine from 2006 to 2007). In addition, the exhibition will feature 6 of Seth’s Dominion city cardboard architectural models, each of which has been specifically constructed for this event. Each of these buildings represents a specific location associated with the character of George Sprott himself.

Mail Me Art is run by Darren Di Lieto, the founder and co-editor of the illustration news portal the Little Chimp Society. Mail Me Art culminated in the publication of the book Mail Me Art: Going Postal with the World’s Best Illustrators and Designers and an exhibition, held in London during 2009. The deadline for the second Mail Me Art Project is 31st January 2010. Submission guide here.

Here’s illustrator Mario Sughi’s review of the Peepshow exhibition that took place in MonsterTruck Gallery recently. The x-rated exhibition included work by Tim Biskup, Tara McPherson, Gaetan Billault, Jon Burgerman, Airside, Serge Seidlitz, Micheal Gillette and many Irish artists and designers.

“Erotic art is not an easy subject at all. For the artist himself it is quite easy to abandon prudence and to find oneself in tricky dangerous waters. On the other hand play it too cautiously and it will be equally easy to fall into gross banality and mortal boredom…..”

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OFFSET2009 kicks off today in earnest with a sexy little group show in Monster Truck.

The Small Print have asked the sauciest creatives around what turns the on for an X-rated gallery show. The walls of the intimate Monster Truck Gallery will be filled with images exploring their darkest, erotic, sexy thoughts and weird fetishes. Be warned this will be a strictly over 18 show and not for the faint-hearted.

Featuring work by Tim Biskup, Tara McPherson, Gaetan Billault, Jon Burgerman, BRENB, Airside, Serge Seidlitz, Micheal Gillette, Steve Simpson, Mike Perry, Chris Judge, TADO, Brian Cronin, Jeremyville, D.A.D.D.Y, Richard Hogg, Nate Williams, Richard Gilligan, Scalder, Asbestos, Conor & David, Aisling Farinella & Cliona O’Flaherty, M&E, Alan Clarke, Brian Coldrick, Phil Dunne, danleo, Ana Benaroya and more.

The exhibition will open Monday 2nd of November at Monster Truck Gallery on Francis Street, Dublin 8 at 7pm and will run until Sunday 8th of November.

MONDAY 2ND-8TH NOVEMBER @ MONSTER TRUCK GALLERY
FRANCIS STREET, DUBLIN 8
ADMISSION: FREE

Drinks Reception supplied by the good people at Heineken.

For more information visit www.iloveoffset.com & www.monstertruck.ie

Just received word from Dave Comiskey of a group exhibition he is part of…

“I have new work in a group exhibition called ’sex guise and maybe some videotape’. The show is in the Cross Gallery on Francis St, and is curated by Mark St.John Ellis. The official opening evening is this Friday September 25th, as it coincides with Dublin Culture Night. The opening will start at 6pm, and go on till late. There’s plenty of stuff happening all around the city on friday evening, but if you’re in the area it would be great if you could drop in. Check out the attached flyer (above) for the full list of participating artists. My studios, Irish Design Shop on Bow Lane East, behind the St. Stephens Green Centre, will be open to the public all night too, with work on show from the studio residents, and I will be heading down there when the wine in the cross gallery runs out.”

Following the opening of the Absolut Original Show (currently running for duration of the Fringe Festival – details below) one of the artists involved, Steve Simpson, has put up a great STEP x STEP showing the progression of his piece on his blog.

Absolut Original is a new show running during the Absolut Fringe Festival. Original Artworks by Irish Creatives inspired by the Absolut bottle featuring Aisling Farinella, Abestos, BRENB, Clíona O’Flaherty, Chris Judge, D.A.D.D.Y, Eoghan Kidney, Glenn Leyburn, Hugh McCarthy, Jonathan McHugh, Maser, M&E, Steve Doogan, Steve Simpson, Studio AAD and Unthink.

Curated by The Small Print.

5PM-10PM September 5th-20th 2009 at the Absolut Fringe Factory, Dublin (AKA The Boys Scholl, 8 Exchange St. Lower (off Woodquay), Temple Bar)

See more at www.absolutart.ie

Mail Me Art is back with the 2nd call for submission. Mail Me Art is run by Darren Di Lieto, the founder and co-editor of the illustration news portal the Little Chimp Society. Over the course of a year, the first Mail Me Art project brought together a vast collection of artistic work sent in the form of mail by both professional and amateur artists of all ages from across the world. A wide variety of media were used in an equally wide variety of styles and the work arrived on everything from postcards and envelopes to boxes and pieces of wood.

Contributions included work by internationally-renowned illustrators such as Dan May, Michael Slack, Jon Burgerman, Kristian Olson, Catalina Estrada and Jeff Miracola and in total there were in excess of 600 pieces of mail art submitted to the project.

Mail Me Art culminated in the publication of the book Mail Me Art: Going Postal with the World’s Best Illustrators and Designers and the exhibition, held in London during April 2009.

Absolut Original is a new show running during the Absolut Fringe Festival. Original Artworks by Irish Creatives inspired by the Absolut bottle featuring Aisling Farinella, Abestos, BRENB, Clíona O’Flaherty, Chris Judge, D.A.D.D.Y, Eoghan Kidney, Glenn Leyburn, Hugh McCarthy, Jonathan McHugh, Maser, M&E, Steve Doogan, Steve Simpson, Studio AAD and Unthink.

Curated by The Small Print.

5PM-10PM September 5th-20th 2009 at the Absolut Fringe Factory, Dublin (AKA The Boys Scholl, 8 Exchange St. Lower (off Woodquay), Temple Bar)

See more at www.absolutart.ie

The Association of Illustrators had the launch of Images 33 at the London College of Communication, Elephant & Castle. earlier this week. The Illustrators Guild of Ireland had 2 members represented, Chris Haughton & Steve Simpson.
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