Niall McCormack
Encyclopedia
Niall McCormack is an Irish painter. Since the 1980s, he exhibited in England, Italy, Sweden, Washington, and Ireland.
Children run by the Daughters of the Cross of Liege in Stillorgan, South Dublin in 1964. Six years later, he was transferred to
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s School for Deaf Boys, Cabra in North Dublin. He was one
of two first pupils to sit the Leaving Certificate examination in
1980.
He studied Architectural Drawing at College of
Technology, Bolton Street, Dublin for two years. He secured a place to study Art Foundation
course at Dun Laoghaire School of Art, Dublin in 1982 and was awarded a NCEA
certificate in Visual Education. In 1983, McCormack studied Fine Art Painting
at the National College of Art and Design, Dublin. He
obtained a NCAD diploma in Painting in 1986 and a BA(Hons) degree in 1987. He was a first deaf student to study Fine Art at
NCAD. He earned a diploma in Arts Management from Birkbeck College, University of London.
painting career. He had a number of exhibitions in London and the
UK. He ran a number of Art workshops and classes, gave a series of talks on Art and Deaf Art. He worked as a freelance gallery guide giving
gallery talks to both deaf and hearing audiences at a number of London galleries including Tate Modern
and the Whitechapel Art Gallery. In 2002, he was invited to
participate in Deaf Way II, World Deaf Arts and Culture Festival in Washington DC
where he exhibited his seven paintings along with invited deaf
artists from all over the world. He delivered a lecture on European
perspective on Deaf Art at Galluadet University, Washington DC.
In the same year 2002, He was asked to have a solo exhibition
at the Custom House Studios, Westport, Co. Mayo. Mr John O’Donaghue, the
Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism officated the opening of the new
Arts centre where he was the first artist to have an exhibition there.
In April 2007, He left London to move back to live in his
hometown Westport permanently. Since 2007, He has exhibited at the RHA regularly. He is represented by the Molesworth Gallery, Dublin where he had two solo exhibitions in 2008 and 2010.
In 2011, he had a solo exhibition at the Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, his birthplace.
He is included in the dictionary of Living Irish Artists.
2010 "Inside Out" Molesworth Gallery, 16 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2
2009 Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon, Co. Clare
2008 "Gothic Pastel" Molesworth Gallery, 16 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2
2005 Custom House Studios Gallery, Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland
2002 Custom House Studios Gallery, Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland
1998 Solo show, Diorama Art Gallery, London.
Education
McCormack is deaf from birth. He received his special education at Mary Immaculate School for DeafChildren run by the Daughters of the Cross of Liege in Stillorgan, South Dublin in 1964. Six years later, he was transferred to
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s School for Deaf Boys, Cabra in North Dublin. He was one
of two first pupils to sit the Leaving Certificate examination in
1980.
He studied Architectural Drawing at College of
Technology, Bolton Street, Dublin for two years. He secured a place to study Art Foundation
course at Dun Laoghaire School of Art, Dublin in 1982 and was awarded a NCEA
certificate in Visual Education. In 1983, McCormack studied Fine Art Painting
at the National College of Art and Design, Dublin. He
obtained a NCAD diploma in Painting in 1986 and a BA(Hons) degree in 1987. He was a first deaf student to study Fine Art at
NCAD. He earned a diploma in Arts Management from Birkbeck College, University of London.
Career
In 1988 McCormack taught deaf children Art on a part time basis in his old school, Mary Immaculate School, Stillorgan for two years. He also worked in his rented studio in Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin. In 1990, He moved to London where he continued to pursue hispainting career. He had a number of exhibitions in London and the
UK. He ran a number of Art workshops and classes, gave a series of talks on Art and Deaf Art. He worked as a freelance gallery guide giving
gallery talks to both deaf and hearing audiences at a number of London galleries including Tate Modern
and the Whitechapel Art Gallery. In 2002, he was invited to
participate in Deaf Way II, World Deaf Arts and Culture Festival in Washington DC
where he exhibited his seven paintings along with invited deaf
artists from all over the world. He delivered a lecture on European
perspective on Deaf Art at Galluadet University, Washington DC.
In the same year 2002, He was asked to have a solo exhibition
at the Custom House Studios, Westport, Co. Mayo. Mr John O’Donaghue, the
Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism officated the opening of the new
Arts centre where he was the first artist to have an exhibition there.
In April 2007, He left London to move back to live in his
hometown Westport permanently. Since 2007, He has exhibited at the RHA regularly. He is represented by the Molesworth Gallery, Dublin where he had two solo exhibitions in 2008 and 2010.
In 2011, he had a solo exhibition at the Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, his birthplace.
He is included in the dictionary of Living Irish Artists.
Solo Exhibitions
2011 "The Incidence of Light", The Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo2010 "Inside Out" Molesworth Gallery, 16 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2
2009 Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon, Co. Clare
2008 "Gothic Pastel" Molesworth Gallery, 16 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2
2005 Custom House Studios Gallery, Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland
2002 Custom House Studios Gallery, Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland
1998 Solo show, Diorama Art Gallery, London.
Collections
- Westport Town Council
- Mayo County Council
- DeafHear, Dublin
- University of Limerick
- Gallaudet University, Washington DC
- See Hear, BBC, London, England
- Leinster Society of Chartered Accountants, Dublin
- Mary Hare Grammar School, Newbury, Berkshire, England
- private collections in Ireland and abroad.