Darragh O'Connell

John and Fionnán, 2024

Oil on canvas 

"This is a painting of my son John and my  grandson Fionnán. I wanted to paint Fionnán as a baby, lying on and relaxing with his father John, showing the physical difference in their size and skin texture and the close physical bond between father and child, like we had when John was a baby. The shadow in the foreground is me, the artist - a father and a grandfather." - Daragh O'Connell

Darragh O’Connell is a self-taught figurative  painter based in Wexford. He paints people  whom he likes, respects and feels empathy for. He was awarded the Ireland-US Council and Irish Arts Review Portraiture Award at the Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, in 2020, and shortlisted for the Zurich Portrait Prize, in 2018. He recently served artist residencies at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre at Annaghmakerrig, Co. Monaghan, and Cill Rialaig Arts Centre, Co. Kerry. O’Connell is currently working on paintings for his first solo exhibition, scheduled for 2026.  

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