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BILLY FOLEY Feb 14th – March 9th An important mid career exhibition of drawings and paintings by Billy Foley opens at the Fenton Gallery on February 14th. Based in Cork, Foley has exhibited regularly in Ireland since graduating in 1984. Over the past ten years, he has had several major exhibitions in Belgium and the Netherlands, the most recent of which was at the Galerie Beeld and Aambeeld, Netherlands,1999. This will be his first Cork solo exhibition in over eight years, giving a very interesting insight into the powerful and assured direction which his work has taken. With twenty year’s experience of painting, Billy Foley is one of the most capable painters working in Ireland today. His work is represented in many private and public collections including: the Arts Council of Ireland Collection, University College Cork, the Crawford Municipal Gallery and the Office of Public Works. His concerns have a certain amount in common with the preoccupations of Abstract Expressionism, but he has found particular expression for his interests in the language of science. Matter, anti matter, space, gravity and the movement of forms pushing and pulling apart. This is experienced against a white background or void, creating an arena of active tension and movement. Foley’s gestural drawings and paintings are a dynamic exploration of line and form. The viewer’s eye is drawn into the various depths of the painting, free to meander among the complex track of forms. The opposing elements of dionysian turbulence and lyrical airiness fuse to create a special energy in his work. His ability to command space is always impressive and can be seen equally between the medium and very large scale artworks. A full colour catalogue including an interview with the artist, is available from the gallery. |
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