Biography
James McCreary was born in Dublin in 1944. He worked at Harry Clarke’s stained glass studio between 1960-1963. From 1964-1978 he worked as a steel erector from Smith & Pearson’s structural engineering works.
In 1973 he joined Graphic Studio Dublin, studying etching and lithography, which led to him becoming Studio Manager in 1980. He set-up the Visiting Artists programme, which introduced many of Ireland’s leading artists to printmaking over the past twenty-five years. Along with Mary Farl Powers and James O’Nolan he was responsible for the setting up of Graphic Studio Gallery in Cope Street in 1988. James McCreary was a Director of Graphic Studio Dublin from 1989-2000, a committee member 1975-2004. In 2004 he left his position as Studio Manager in order to concentrate solely on his own work. In 2005 James was invited to become a member of Aosdána.
Selected solo exhibitions include Galleri Astley in Sweden (2004); Graphic Studio Gallery in Dublin (1993). Selected group exhibitions include: The cracked looking-glass in Dublin and in the Old Print Shop, Lexington Avenue, New York; (2004); 6e Triennal Mondiale Chamalieres, France (2003); The London Original Print Fair, Royal Academy, London (1997-2003).
He has represented Ireland at the Biennale of European Graphic Art in Heidelberg and the International Print Triennial in East Berlin (among others). His work can be found in the public collections of the Modern Art Museum in Cairo, the Chester Beatty Library, the National Gallery of Ireland and the Crawford Municipal Gallery in Cork.
Selected Exhibitions
2023 Decennium, 10th Anniversary Exhibition, SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin
2022 Back Country, SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin
2022 Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts, Annual Exhibition, Dublin
2022 60 Years of Graphic Studio Dublin, Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin
2021 Winter Exhibition 2021, Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin
2020 Graphic Studio Dublin at London Original Print Fair, Graphic Studio Dublin
2019 Re Original Prints 2019, Bankside Gallery, London
2019 The Works, B&A Print Collection 1989-2018, Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin
2018 Féile Gheimhridh – Winter Exhibition, SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin
2018 Here Comes The Night, Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin
2012 The Hy-Brasil Expedition, Graphic Studio, Dublin
2009 Artist’s Proof, Chester Beatty Library, Dublin
2007 Dublin Port Print, Dublin