Diarmuid Kelley b. 1972

Overview
Diarmuid Kelley
In the Studio, November 2019, photo by Tommophoto

'I’ve always liked those paintings by Degas that were sketchier around the edges, where he painted something beautifully but hadn’t felt the need to paint right up to the edges and create some very laborious hard-won work that was entirely resolved. I like the brevity of his painting. There’s always one element in any painting I’ve done that’s always the most interesting thing for me, one that activates everything else, and beyond that I start to get a bit bored, and I’ve never been frightened of letting that dictate where I stop.'

Born in Stirling, Scotland, Diarmuid Kelley grew up in the north of England. He studied Fine Art at Newcastle University, graduating in 1995. He was the youngest artist ever to win the prestigious Nat West Art Prize at the age of 23 and later completed a Masters at Chelsea College of Art.

 

Kelley has been represented by Offer Waterman since 1998. He's had nine solo exhibitions with the gallery and in November 2019 we showed his work in New York for the first time. An exceptional painter of people, he has been commisioned to paint Dame Anne Owers for the National Portrait Gallery; Sir Richard Thompson for the Royal College of Physicians; and HRH the Duchess of Cornwall and The Duke of Devonshire for their private collections.

 

Offer Waterman exclusively represents Diarmuid Kelley.

Follow Diarmuid on Instagram @diarmuidkelleylondon

 

Works
Exhibitions
Biography
Painting Bea, November 2019, photo by Tommophoto
Painting Bea, November 2019, photo by Tommophoto

Education

1996 - 1997 MA Painting Chelsea College of Art and Design

1991 - 1995 BA Hons Fine Art, 1st Class, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

 

Awards and Prizes

Runner up, BP Portrait Award, 2011

1st Prize, NatWest Prize for Art, 1995

Runner up, BP Portrait Award, 1995 

 

Solo Exhibitions

2019 Diarmuid Kelley, Stellan Hom Gallery / Offer Waterman, New York

2017 Akzidenz-Grotesk, Offer Waterman, London

2014 All Cats Are Grey, Offer Waterman, London

2011 20/21 British Art Fair, Royal College of Art, London

2010 Recent Works, Offer Waterman, London

2009 Autumn Journal, Offer Waterman, London

2006 Recent Paintings, Offer Waterman, London

2001 This Is The Modern World, Offer Waterman, London

1998 Diarmuid Kelley, Offer Waterman, London

 

Selected Group Exhibitions

2022 Beyond Description,  Figure | Ground Art Gallery, Seattle

2022 Beyond Description, Sugarlift, New York

2018 Twentieth Century and Contemporary Art in Ulster, The Drawing Room, Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland

2011 The Figure, Browse & Darby, London

2010 BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London

2007 Hinterland, Thomas Williams Fine Art, London

2007 BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London

2004 Illuminate, Jasmine Studios, Hammersmith, London

2001 BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London

1999 BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London

1999 Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Gallery, London

1998 BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London

1998 Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Gallery, London

1997 MA Degree Show, Chelsea College of Art and Design, London

1996 Art in Academia, Christie's, London

1995 NatWest Prize for Art, Royal Academy of Arts, London

1995 BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London

1995 Northern Graduates, Royal College of Art, London

1995 BA Degree Show, Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle

 

Literature

2002 Edward Lucie-Smith, Art Tomorrow, Terrail, Paris, p107 illus colour

 

Commissions

2022 The Lord Allen of Kensington CBE, private commission 

2015 Sir Richard Thompson, commissioned for the permanent collection of the Royal College of Physicians, London

2014 Artist accompanying TRH the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall on a royal tour of Mexico and Colombia, October 2014

2012 HRH Duchess of Cornwall, private commission

2010 Dame Anne Owers, commissioned for the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London

Publications
News