Paraic Leahy - The Nothing Unfurling Under Her Gaze

Paraic creates highly detailed paintings with an absurd logic, using his own slant on magical realism, deviating from the familiar and breaking rules. A fascination with the human subconscious and the unknown shapes that dwell within, seeps into Paraic’s work, questioning the recesses of an individual’s inner world. He looks to themes of incompleteness, isolation and social order, underpinned by contrary notions of ‘beauty and the absurd’.

Paraic’s imagery manifests in icons connecting the interior and exterior worlds of the artist and are rooted in nostalgia. The paintings act as a reference to the past and unsettling shadows and shapes held somewhere in one’s memory. Swirling patterns of childhood wallpaper, memories of staring out of the window imagining idealistic landscapes, collecting pieces of wood and tangled strands of hair lying on his mother’s kitchen floor (his mother being a hairdresser by trade) all combine to influence Paraic and form the undercurrent of his work.

While contemporary in his approach, Paraic draws inspiration from Victorian writers, theorists and psychoanalysts, particularly from their ideas related to the uncanny, otherness and doubles, and the florid and theatrical nature of their language. Paraic’s paintings attempt to mirror their efforts, delving into his own psychic hinterland as a reservoir for creative material.

About Paraic Leahy

Paraic Leahy lives and works in Callan, Kilkenny, Ireland. He has had solo exhibitions at Abhainn Ri Festival, Kilkenny, Ireland, (2017); Terryglass Arts Festival (Invited Artist), Tipperary, Ireland, (2015), Nag Gallery, Dublin, Ireland, (2014); and Ormston House Gallery, Limerick, Ireland, (2013). Paraic has exhibited with several group shows at PAPER, as well as collaborative projects with other galleries outside the UK: The Sense of Things at Durden and Ray, Los Angeles; Line and Fold, Campbasel Revisted, Basel, Switzerland both in 2017; Paper Dialogues at Kir Royal Gallery, Valencia in 2016.

In Ireland, Paraic has exhibited at the RHA Gallery, Kevin Kavanagh Gallery, Driochead Art Centre; Galway Art Centre: Pallas Projects; Limerick City Gallery and Rua Red. Paraic is the recipient of a number of Awards – Tipperary Artist Award. (Tipperary Arts Office, Ireland), (2018), (2017); shortlisted for Beep International Painting Prize, Wales, UK, (2016); The RHA Tony O’Malley Residency Award (2015/16); Ucross Foundation Fellowship Award, Wyoming, U.S.A, (2011); Arts Council of Ireland Travel and Training Award, (2011); Claremorris Arts Open, Second Prize winner selected by Lisa Le Feuvre, (2010) Paraic’s work has been purchase by The OPW (The Irish State Art Collection) in 2017 and 2014; Tipperary Arts Office permanent Collection 2015.