Biography

Tom Fitzgerald is an Irish Artist living in County Limerick, Ireland.

He retired from his position as Head of Sculpture in Limerick School of Art and Design in 2000, to pursue his own work.

His practice includes sculpture, drawing, painting, installation and temporary environmental interventions.

In 1977 he was a founder member of EVA.

He was elected to Aosdana in 2001.

A book of his satirical drawings, The Celtic Zoo, was published by Occasional Press in Oct 2014.

CURRICULUM VITAE

email : tomfitzgeral@gmail.com

Website: www.tomfitzgerald.ie

1939: Born in Limerick, Ireland.

1965-69: Limerick School of Art & Design

1976 – 2000: Head of Sculpture, Limerick School of Art & Design

1977: Founder member of Exhibition of Visual Art (EV+a)                                               2001:   Elected to membership of Aosdana

Lives and works in County Limerick

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2022:  Spirit Music, Limerick City Gallery of Art

2020: The Best Laid Plans, VISUAL, Carlow

2014: The Celtic Zoo, Luan Gallery, Athlone, Co. Westmeath

2013: Selected Works, Iniscealtra Arts Festival, Mountshannon, Co Clare

The Celtic Zoo, Custom House Studios, Westport, County Mayo                              

2011/12: The Celtic Zoo, Bourn Vincent Gallery, University of Limerick

2009: The Ministry of Dust & Other Works, Doswell Gallery, Roscarbery, Co. Cork

GAZAPARADISO, Drawing/text installation, The Black Mariah Gallery, Cork

2006: A History of Silence, Ashford Gallery, RHA Gallagher Gallery, Dublin

2004: The Ministry of Dust,  Limerick City Gallery of Art & Niland Gallery, Sligo

1999: Work from the Nineties, Monaghan Museum.

1998 : Other Litanies, Butler Gallery, Kilkenny; Rubicon Gallery, Dublin.

1996: Object Histories, Bunratty Folk Park, County Clare.

1995: Ephemeral Lexicon , Project Arts Centre, Dublin; Limerick City Gallery of Art,                                                                                                                          

Alternative Geographies,  Rubicon Gallery, Dublin.

1991: New Works, Riverrun Gallery, Dublin.

1989: Work from the Eighties  – Butler Gallery, Kilkenny. 

1988: Acquisitions in Context,  Limerick City Gallery of Art

1985:  Hendriks Gallery, Dublin. 

COLLABORATIONS

2014 – For the Birds with Sean Lynch, VISUAL, Carlow

The Celtic Zoo book publication, with Theo Dorgan, Occasional Press

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2022: Artists from Ireland, Sasse Art Museum, LA, online show

2021:  Couples, Sasse Art Museum, LA, online show

2019:  RHA Annual Exhibition, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin

2018: RHA Annual Exhibition, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin

2017:  Artworks, VISUAL, Carlow

Art in a Box, Hamilton Gallery, Sligo

2016: Artworks, VISUAL, Carlow                                                                                                                   2015:  RHA Annual Exhibition, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin

Art in Killanure Castle

2014:  The Celtic Zoo, Luan Gallery, Athlone

Synergy, Bourn Vincent Gallery, UL

 Personal Choice, Church Gallery, LSAD, Limerick

  RHA Annual Exhibition, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin

  Garden Sculpture Exhibition, Russborough House, Blessington, Co Dublin

2013:  RHA Annual Exhibition, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin

The Year of the Flood, Flood Gallery, Dublin

 Selected Group Show, Custom House Studios, Westport

2012:  A Vivid Imagination: Selected works from the Collection, LCGA, Limerick

The Hellfire Club Project – Askeaton Contemporary Arts, Askeaton, Co. Limerick

 RHA Annual Exhibition, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin

  Elements – OPW exhibition of Public Sector Artworks – Belfast Central Library.

2011: RHA Annual Exhibition, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin

Fine Lines, Selection from the National Collection of Contemporary Drawing, Istabraq Hall, Limerick

Collecting for Ireland, Works from the Arts Council Collection, Hunt Museum

2010: Ev+a Annual Exhibition, Limerick

Bittersweet, Doswell Gallery, Roscarbery

Mirror, mirror, RHA Gallagher Gallery

RHA Annual Exhibition, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin

Boyle Arts Show (Invited Artist)

Michael Quane Selects, Lavit Gallery, Cork

Table of Contents, LSAD research Project

2009:  RHA Annual Exhibition, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin (Invited artist)

2008: Charles Harper Selects, McBride Art Gallery, Killarney

Sculpture in the Garden, Dublin

Abhar agus Meon, International Archaeology Congress, UCD, Dublin

RHA Annual Exhibition, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin

2007: RHA Annual Exhibition, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin

Maverick, Ruby Lane Gallery, Limerick

2006:  RHA Annual Exhibition, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin (Invited Artist)

Sculpture in Kells – Kilkenny & Wales

Failure: Grennan Mill, Kilkenny Arts Week

2005:  After the thaw-recent art from the AIB Art Collection-Crawford Art Gallery, Cork

From Landscape, Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, LCGA, Limerick

An Leabhar Mor, Glucksman Gallery, UCC.

RHA Annual Exhibition, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin (Invited Artist)

Contemporary Art from Ireland, European Central Bank, Frankfurt

The happiest country in the world, OPW, Dublin; Lorient, France

2004: RHA Annual Exhibition (Invited Artist)

Boyle Arts Festival (Invited Artist)

2003:  14 Artists One Place, Holter Museum, Helena, Montana, USA

RHA Annual Exhibition, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin

2002:  An Leabhar Mor Exhibition, The Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow

EV+a, Limerick

RHA, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin (Invited Artist)

Line/Exploration, Lavit Gallery Cork

2001:  As I See Myself,  Hunt Museum, Limerick

2001:  Focus on Drawing, Limerick, Cork, Dublin

Fitzgerald, Harper, Shinnors, Slade, Vanguard Gallery, Cork

2000:  Kingdom of Heaven, R.H.A. Gallery, Dublin 

An Artists’ Century, R.H.A. Gallery, Dublin

Stitches and Ditches, IMMA Travelling Show

1999:  Remembering Jim Kemmy, Limerick City Gallery of Art

Inscriptions in Stone, Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast

1998:  Europa 24, Linz, Austria. 

1998:  EV+A 98, Limerick.

1997:  Lingua Oculorum, Beltable, Limerick

1997:  Director’s Cut , Rubicon Gallery, Dublin.

1996:  Arts Fest, RTC, Cork. (Curator : Matthew Flowers)

1996:  Pro-em, Sculptors’ Drawings, Rubicon Gallery, Dublin.

1996:  Royal Hibernian Academy, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin

1995:  EV+A 95 (Curator : Maria de Corral)  

1994:  EUROPA 24, Erfurt, Germany.

1993:  Bourne Vincent Inaugural show, University of Limerick.

1992:  EV+A 92 . Limerick. (Curator : Lars Nittve)

EUROPA 24, Hungary.

1991:  L’avventura dell’ oggetto, Padua, Italy.

1988:  Irish Artists, Art Advice Gallery, New York.

Olympiade des Arts, Seoul, South Korea.

Sculpture Open, Gallagher Gallery, Dublin.

1987:  International Small Sculpture Exhibition, Budapest.

EV+A ‘87, Limerick (Curator : Ida Panicelli)

1986  111éme Biennale Européenne de Sculpture, France.

1985:  Nine Irish Artists, Armstrong Gallery, New York.

 EV+A  ‘85, Limerick Curator: Rudi Fuchs)

1984:  ROSC ‘84, Dublin.

11éme Biennale Européenne de Sculpture, France.

1983:  EV+A ‘83 –  Limerick, Belfast, Dublin.

1982:  GPA Awards Show, Douglas Hyde Gallery, Dublin.

 AWARDS

2004:  Arts Council Bursary

1994:   Sculpture Award, IONTAS Exhibition, Sligo.

1992:   Department of Foreign Affairs Travel Award.

1988:  Patron’s Award, EV+A ‘88 (curator: Alexander Rozhin).

1987:  Department of Foreign Affairs Travel Award.

Open Award, EV+A ‘87 (curator: Ida Panicelli).

1986:   Arts Council Bursary.

1984:   Department of Foreign Affairs Bursary.

1982:   Scott Tallon Walker Award

1981:   Oireachtas Gold Medal.

Calor Kosangas Award.

Open Award, EV+A ‘81 (curator: Pierre Restany).

Arts Council Bursary.

1980:  Patron’s Award, EV+A ‘80 (curator:Brian O Doherty).

PUBLICATIONS

THE CELTIC ZOO ( With Theo Dorgan) – Occasional Press, 2014

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

An Chomhairle Ealaoin (The Arts Council).

Office of Public Works

Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery, Dublin.

Marley Park Sculpture Garden, Dublin.

Gordon Lambert Collection, IMMA, Dublin.

Loans and Donations from Maire and Maurice Foley, IMMA, Dublin

Allied Irish Investment Bank, Dublin.

AIB Financial Services Division, Cork

Olympic Park, Seoul, South Korea.

Limerick City Gallery of Art

City Hall, Limerick

County Hall, Limerick

Limerick Contemporary Art Society.

University of Limerick.

Mary Immaculate College of Education, Limerick.

Butler Gallery, Kilkenny.

Colonia Insurance Co. Irish Financial Services Centre, Dublin 1.

Public Library, Roscrea, Co Tipperary

Public Library, Newcastlewest, Co Limerick

St Patrick’s Secondary School, Tulla, Co, Clare

PUBLIC COMMISSIONS 

2013:  JFK Commemorative coin commissioned by The Central Bank of Ireland

2006:   “Voyage of the alchemist” – Dundalk, Co. Louth

2003: “The Numbers game” Limerick County Council Headquarters

2001: “Bending the Wind” – Ringabella, Co. Cork 

2001: “Ark” – Kenmare, Co. Kerry 

2001: “The Sounding Tree” – Bru Boru, Cashel, Co. Tipperary

2000:  “Millennium Stone” – Pallaskenry, County Limerick

2000:   “Land Litany” – Irish Pavilion, EXPO 2000, Hannover, Germany. 

2000:   “The Singing Cosmos”–  Sculpture for St. Luke’s Hospital, Dublin.

1998 :  “ Leaf Litany” – Sculpture for University of Limerick.          

1988:   “Temple for Molly Bloom”  Olympic Park, Seoul, South Korea.

1987:   “Sweeney’s Throne”, Custom House, Limerick.

1986:   “Falla” IDA sponsored sculpture for  Annacotty Enterprise Centre, Limerick

1984:    Irish National Insurance Awards

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REVIEWS

THE POETRY OF VISION – Peter Shortt – Irish Academic Press, 2016

ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND, VOLUME 111, SCULPTURE – Yale University Press 2014

BETWEEN FORM AND SPACE – Judith Hill, Irish Arts Review, 2014

THE CELTIC ZOO – GERRY DUKES, Irish Arts Review,  2014

ELEMENTS – OPW and Dept of Finance and Personnel, Northern Ireland – 2012

THE HELLFIRE CLUB – ASKEATON CONTEMPORARY ARTS – 2012

21 PROPOSALS FOR THE TURBINE HALL – Produced and edited by Peter Morgan and Judy Kravis – Road Books – 2011

COLLECTING FOR IRELAND- WORKS FROM THE ARTS COUNCIL COLLECTION – Curated by Ruairi O Cuiv – The Hunt Museum – 2011

BY THE WAY – A selection of public art in Ireland – Ann Lane – Wordwell – 2010

DICTIONARY OF LIVING IRISH ARTISTS – Robert O Byrne – Plurabelle Publishing – 2010

THE AVANT – David Brancaleone – CIRCA 130 – Winter 2009

GAZAPARADISO – The Black Mariah, Cork – Foreword by Sean Lynch – 2009

AFTER THE THAW – Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Cork – 2005

TOM FITZGERALD – The Ministry of Dust Drawings – Gandon Editions – 2004

TOM FITZGERALD – The Ministry of Dust – Published by Limerick City Gallery of Art – 2004

TOM FITZGERALD – Profile 20 – Editors – John O Regan & Nicola Dearey, Gandon Editions – 2004

AN LEABHAR MÒR – CANONGATE BOOKS -Editors – Malcolm Maclean & Theo Dorgan – 2002

DRAWING TEXTS – OCCASIONAL PRESS – Edited by Jim Savage – 2001

ARCHITEKTUR ARCHITECTURE – EXPO 2000 Hannover – 2000

AN ARTISTS’ CENTURY – R H A GALLERY, DUBLIN – 2000

KINGDOM OF HEAVEN – LIMERICK CITY GALLERY OF ART – 1999

THE BUTLER GALLERY COLLECTION – THE BUTLER GALLERY, 1999

CATALOGUE OF THE COLLECTION-IMMA, May 1991-May 1998  

APPRECIATION & HISTORY OF ART – Aidan O Sullivan, Gill & McMillan, 1998

LE REPERTOIRE ILLUSTRE DE L’ART ENVIRONNEMENTAL – ISELP – 1996

NATIONAL COLLECTION OF CONTEMPORARY DRAWING – Volume 1- 1996

4D – Sculptors’ Society of Ireland Magazine, July 1995.

L’ART URBAIN DANS L’EUROPE DES DOUZE- Dossier de Recherche, Institut Superieur pour l’Etude du Langage Plastique, 1993.

TOM FITZGERALD- Peter Jordan, CIRCA magazine, Number 51, 1990.

NATIONAL SELF-PORTRAIT COLLECTION OF IRELAND- Sarah Finlay, University of Limerick Press.

MEITHEAL – SCULPTURE SYMPOSIA IN IRELAND, Sculptors’ Society of Ireland, 1988.

SIGHT, INSIGHT, EXCITE – Lourda Sheppard, Folens, 1987.

IRISH ARTISTS- Portraits by Muiris Moynihan – Irish Visual Arts Foundation, 1987.

GODS AND GALLANTS – RTE interview, Jan. 11th. 1987.

TOM FITZGERALD- Dorothy Walker, Hendriks Gallery Publication, 1986.

OPENING DOORS -THE PORTALS OF DISCOVERY – Gerry Dukes, Catalogue article,1985

ARTIST CHASING THE VERY SPIRIT OF THE  LAND-Aidan Dunne, Sunday Press, Dec 1st. 1985.

THE MEETING OF THE WATERS- Dorothy Walker, Art and Artists, September 1984.

IRISH SCULPTURE FROM 1600- Anne Crookshank, Department of Foreign Affairs, 1984.

CONTEMPORARY IRISH ART- Editor, Roderic Knowles, Wolfhound Press, 1982.