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Tom Phelan
, Irish, b.1970
Title
PaxDate2016
MediumRelief print
Dimensions
Sheet: 45.9 x 37.6 cm
Plate: 25.2 x 20.2 cm
Signedlower right (in graphite): Tom Phelan
Credit LinePurchased, 2019
Object numberNGI.2019.39.3
DescriptionGraphic Studio Dublin, Fine Art Printmakers, was founded in 1960 to teach traditional printmaking skills then unavailable in Irish art colleges, and to provide studios and technical assistance to artists to make fine art prints. Its founders were Patrick Hickey, Leslie MacWeeney, Liam Miller, Elizabeth Rivers and Anne Yeats. A gallery, known as Graphic Studio Gallery was established in 1988, to promote fine-art printmaking in Ireland and abroad, to educate the public about printmaking, and to exhibit and sell prints on behalf of member artists. It is located off Cope Street in Temple Bar while the Studio is based in an old warehouse building on the North Circular Road. Graphic Studio Dublin published sponsors’ portfolios from the 1960s to the 1980s. These portfolios consisted of six prints presented in a portfolio and in later publications a poem was also added. These works were produced to raise funds for the running of the studio and were a great success. In 2010 Graphic Studio relaunched the Sponsors' Portfolios as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations. Over ten years, they will publish 10 portfolios (one per year). Each year an edition of 75 bespoke folders is made, each of which contains four prints by Graphic Studio printmakers and invited artists and one piece of writing. Writers have included Jennifer Johnston, John Banville and Colm Toibín.
The commissioned artists and writer in 2016 are: Grainne Cuffe, Sharon Lee, Mary Lohan, Tom Phelan, and the poet Paula Meehan.
This print is by Tom Phelan. Phelan was born in Dublin and was educated at Blackrock College and Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology. In 1997 he was awarded one of nine international scholarships in Graphic Arts at Il Bisonte, Florence, Italy by S.D. Aerospace Design, Tokyo, Japan. He has been a member of Graphic Studio Dublin since 1992, was the Studio Manager and Master Printmaker from 2004 until 2007, and has worked as an editioning printmaker and technician with artists such as; Louis Le Brocquy, A.R. Penck, Michael Farrell, Tony O’Malley, Felim Egan, Barry Flanagan and Donald Teskey. He is currently a freelance master printmaker and painter. Tom currently is also the Head Lecturer in Printmaking at the Vienna Art School (Kunstschule) in Vienna, Austria.
Inscriptionlower left (in graphite): 17/75