Gallery

Tony O'Malley - Irish (1913-2003)

 

Born in Callan, County Kilkenny, Tony O’Malley began painting in 1947 when he was confined to hospital during an illness.  He continued to paint in his spare time while working as a bank official but devoted his full attention to painting after leaving the bank in 1958.

He settled in St Ives in Corwall in 1960 and from 1974 to 1987 made regular visits to the Bahamas.

In 1982 he was the subject of the RTE documentary Places Apart.  A retrospective exhibition of his work was organised by the Arts Council of Ireland in 1984, accompanied by a publication by Brian Fallon. O’Malley exhibited widely in Ireland and Britain and represented Ireland in Rosc ‘88.  He returned to live in County Kilkenny in 1990 and exhibited with the Taylor Galleries, Dublin.  O’Malley was elected HRHA in 1990 and was also a member of Aosdana who elected him to the position of “Saoi” in 1993.

In 1994 he was the subject of a book in the Works series published by Gandon Editions.  A major publication documenting his work, edited by Brian Lynch, was also published.  His work can be found in private collections in Ireland, Britain, Europe and America, and in the collections of Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery of Modern Art, Irish Museum of Modern Art and Ulster Museum.