Abstract artist Tory Irvine has announced that her latest solo exhibition will take place in the beautifully restored Oughterard Courthouse from 15 to 22 July.
Titled ‘In These Moments‘, the exhibition will showcase Tory’s latest collection of original paintings.
Selling predominantly through her website, toryirvineart.com, Tory is fast becoming a house-hold name.
Her bright and bold style is instantly recognisable and is in high demand, with original paintings being sold to private collectors as far as Portugal, Australia and California.
Closer to home, Tory’s work can be seen in some of Ireland’s most stylish hotels, with The Wren (Dublin) and The Dean (Galway) both commissioning a range of originals and limited edition prints for their hotel’s private collection.
Originally from Belfast but living in Galway for almost 20 years, Tory works from her bright, purpose-built garden studio, making colourful energetic paintings and collages that express her love for playful creativity, mark-making and contrast.
Although she has always enjoyed painting, it only became her full-time career in recent years.
She studied fashion design in NCAD and worked across many design disciplines, including fashion, textile print design and interiors for many years. Her textile prints were hand drawn and hand painted and her love for paint was re-established during this time in her career.
Now she paints daily, is drawn to the freedom of the medium and the opportunity it provides to feel truly connected to herself. She references her own experience of her life in the West of Ireland and describes emotions, memories and dreams in her own abstract language.
“I want to make work that can’t be walked past, something that captivates and mesmerises,” says Tory.
She believes the positive and uplifting effect painting has on her is transferable and that her paintings can bring light and happiness to the viewer and enrich their lives.
This uplifting theme was very present in her 2018 solo exhibition (titled “Thrive”) at the Galway University Hospital Arts Trust.
Later that year, Tory held her second solo exhibition at the PorterShed Galway, and has since been building her online business and privately commissioned portfolio.
Tory is also excited about the location of the upcoming exhibition.
‘The Courthouse’ in Oughterard was designed and built in the 1840s and received major restoration works in 2012.
It now functions as an attractive, contemporary, open space utilised for the promotion of visual, cultural, and performing Arts. James Harold, Galway City Arts officer has described it as ‘the best exhibition space in the west of Ireland’.
The artwork of Tory Irvine will excite and captivate all that stop by, providing an ideal opportunity for holidaymakers and locals alike to add a splash of colour to their homes.
