A man stands in a stairwell. Behind, we see a door with a fanlight and a tiled hallway. To his left, a colourful painting hangs on the wall. He is wearing jeans, a baseball cap, a wax jacket and a puffer jacket, and has a backpack on his back.
Mick O'Dea, Fergus Martin, 2022. © Mick O' Dea. Photo, National Gallery of Ireland.

Mick O'Dea

Fergus Martin, 2022

Oil on canvas

"The portrait of the artist Fergus Martin catches him on the stairs of the house in Henrietta Street, Dublin, where he and I have studios. I have been working in the house for 45 years and have seen a lot of coming and going. Mick Cullen’s painting hangs to the left of Fergus. Mick died in 2020 and was one of the first artists to work in number 6. Fergus lost the sight in his right eye 15 years ago. The studios close for good next year." - Mick O'Dea

Mick O’Dea is a painter and occasional sculptor  who forefronts people, place and history in his work. He has been exhibiting nationally and internationally since 1977 and is the recipient of many awards and prizes. He is chairperson of the Stamp Design Advisory Committee and a member of the Philatelic Advisory Committee of An Post, a past president of the Royal Hibernian Academy, a member of Aosdána, an Honorary Member of the Royal Scottish Academy, Fellow of the Anatomical Society, Vice-President of the Trinity College Historical Society, and a board member of The Ballinglen Arts Foundation. He mainly lives and works in Ireland. 

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