The current exhibition at the F.E. McWilliam Gallery and Studio, entitled The Surreal in Irish Art is proving to be a big hit with the public. Over 100 people have visited the exhibition every weekend since it opened on May 28 and several arts and community groups from north and south of the border have visited, or are planning to come within the next few weeks.

Exploring the influence of surrealism in Irish art, the exhibition presents the work of over twenty artists including old favourites such as Gerard Dillon, John Luke and Colin Middleton, well known Ulster artists including Jack Pakenham, Dermot Seymour, Elizabeth Taggart and Rita Duffy, and emerging artists including Zoe Murdoch from Fermanagh and David Eager Maher from Dublin.

Works that are proving particularly popular include Dorothy Cross’ Saddle  and Rita Duffy’s surreal painting of a wedding party represented only by their clothes.  Dorothy Cross, who is represented in the collection of the Tate Modern, London, is one of Ireland most internationally acclaimed artists and this iconic work is on loan from the collection of the Irish Museum of Modern Art Dublin. Rita Duffy, whose work is familiar to many people in Northern Ireland, will be holding a major exhibition of her work at the F.E. McWilliam Gallery next year. 

Speaking about the public response to the exhibition, Gallery Curator Dr Riann Coulter said: “Surrealism is a really popular art movement and this exhibition is the first to consider how Irish artists were inspired by the movement. We have received excellent reviews in many of the main papers in Dublin and Belfast, so news of the show is spreading quickly and we expect many more visitors before it closes over the summer months.’

The exhibition will run at the gallery until Sunday 11 September 2011. The gallery is open Monday to Saturday from 10am until 5pm and Sunday from 1pm until 5pm. Admission is free. For further information, contact the F.E. McWilliam Gallery and Studio on 028 4062 3322 

The exhibition will travel to our cross-border partners, the Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda where it will run from Saturday 24 September to Tuesday 2 November 2011.