Conor Walton, 1970 | Allegorical figurative painter

Conor Walton is a leading Irish artist and a painter of international renown.

He has had eighteen solo exhibitions in Europe and America and participated in museum exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery (London), MEAM (Barcelona), The National Gallery of Ireland, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Museo Páblo Serrano (Zaragoza), Palazzo Litta (Milan), Palazzo Cini (Venice), the American University Museum (Washington DC), WMOCA (Wisconsin), Castello di San Leo (Italy) PO.RO.S Museum (Portugal), Pasinger Fabrik (Munich) and Winchester Museum (UK).

Walton has won numerous awards for his work including the Isamil Lulani International Award (2019), ModPortrait 2017, Arc Salon 2014/15 (Still Life), Portrait Ireland 2005, ‘Lorenzo il Magnifico’ International Award (1999), Don Niccolo D'Ardia Caracciolo RHA Medal (1997), Keating McLoughlin Medal (1997), Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Scholarship (1994) Taylor Prize (1993).

He was shortlisted for the BP Portrait Award in 2005 and the Golden Fleece Award in 2011.

He was born in Ireland in 1970 and trained at NCAD in Dublin and under Charles Cecil in Florence, Italy.

He holds a Masters Degree in Art History and Theory (awarded with Distinction) from the University of Essex.

He has lectured at the National Gallery of Ireland, University College Dublin, the Royal Hibernian Academy, Laguna College of Art and Design, the New Museum, Los Gatos, and been Artist in Residence at California Lutheran University.

He has attended The Representational Art Conference (TRAC) both as demonstration artist and guest speaker.

Since its foundation in 2017 the ‘Conor Walton Summer School’ and its scholarship programme have drawn students from four continents.

His works have appeared on postage stamps and book covers in Ireland and abroad.

He lives and works in Wicklow, Ireland.

"I see myself as a figurative painter in the European tradition, attempting to maintain my craft at the highest level, using paint to explore issues of truth, meaning and value. All my paintings are attempted answers to the three questions in the title of Gauguin’s famous painting: ‘Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?" - Conor Walton

Conor Walton è un pittore figurativo Irlandese. Walton vive e lavora ad Wicklow, in Irlanda.

Walton è nato in Irlanda e si è formato al National College of Art and Design di Dublino e ai Charles Cecil Studios di Firenze, in Italia.

Walton è stato presentato in numerose mostre personali irlandesi ed internazionali.

I suoi ritratti commissionati possono essere trovati in molte collezioni pubbliche e private, tra cui The National Self Portrait Collection of Ireland, The Irish Armed Forces e quelle del Trinity College e dell'University College, entrambi a Dublino.

Il suo lavoro è apparso anche su copertine di libri e francobolli in Irlanda ed all'estero.

Walton dipinge principalmente dal vero, evitando il fotorealismo per valori più pittorici.

Pur conservando un realismo inquietante da lontano, ad un attento esame la sua produzione di segni è spesso gestuale e la superficie è densamente lavorata.