William McKeown
McKeown was born to a Presbyterian family in County Tyrone. He was brought up on a farm which remained an inspiration throughout his artistic life.
In 1980-81, he studied Art History at the University College, London. In 1984, he graduated in Textile Design at Central School of Art & Design, London. In 1987, he graduated with an MA in Design from Glasgow School of Art. McKeown moved to Dublin in Ireland in 1988.
In 1994, he graduated with a Masters in Fine Art at the University of Ulster in Belfast. The Kerlin Gallery presented his first solo show in 1996. McKeown was board member of Temple Bar Gallery and Studios (2002-2005, at the time he had a studio there) and the Douglas Hyde Gallery (2002-2005).
McKeown represented Northern Ireland at the 51st Venice Biennale, in 2005.In 2006, he moved to Edinburgh. He died in Edinburgh at the age of 49.
McKeown is represented in the collections of Dallas Museum of Modern Art; Irish Museum of Modern Art; The Ulster Museum; Arts council of England and the Arts Council of Ireland.
