Biography
John Behan RHA is an Irish sculptor from Dublin. After an apprenticeship in metal work and welding, the foundations for Behan’s success were laid in the sixties, when he trained in London and Oslo and began to exhibit widely. He was a founding member of the New Artists’ group in 1962 and Dublin’s innovative Project Art Centre in Dublin in 1967. Behan has been awarded many honours and became a member of the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1990. Behan is also a member of Aosdána. In June 2000 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the National University of Ireland, Galway on the same day his large commissioned sculpture, ‘Twin Spires’, was unveiled at the college. His major public commissions include ‘Flight of Birds’, ‘Famine Ship’, ‘Tree of Liberty’, ‘Daedalus’, ‘Millennium Child’, and ‘Arrival and Equality Emerging’, unveiled in Galway city in November 2001.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2011 Mullan gallery, Belfast
2010 Fifty Years A-Making, Solomon Fine Art, Dublin
2010, 1996, 1994, 1991, 1989, 1987, 1985, 1983 Gordon Gallery, Derry
2009 The Silence of History, Hunt Museum, Limerick
2007 Mullan Gallery, Belfast
2007 Gormley’s Fine Art, Omagh
2004, 2001 McGill Summer School, Co. Donegal
2004, 2002, 2000, 1998, 1995 Hallward Gallery, Dublin
2001 Westport Arts Centre, Co Mayo
2001 AIB Bank, Park Avenue, New York
2001 Ashford Gallery, RHA, Dublin
2001, 1999 United Arts Club, Dublin
2001, 1997 Lavit Gallery, Cork
1998, 1996, 1994, 1993 The Irish Club, Eaton Square, London
1997 Grant Fine Art, Newcastle, Co. Down
1996 Kilcock Gallery, Co. Kildare
1996 Dolmen Gallery, Limerick
1995 Major Retrospective Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy , Sligo Art Gallery, Sligo
1994 Major Retrospective Exhibition, Galway Arts Centre
1991 Riverrun Gallery, Dublin
1992, 1984, 1982, 1980, 1976, 1974 Cork Arts Society
1990 Carroll Gallery, Longford
1986, 1980 Taylor Galleries, Dublin
1980 Bell Gallery, Belfast
1977 Octagon Gallery, Belfast
1974 Sean Desmond Gallery, New York
1973 to date Kenny Gallery, Galway
1969, 1967, 67 Project Art Centre, Dublin
Selected Exhibitions
2008 The Secret Garden, Solomon Gallery at the Iveagh Gardens, Dublin
2005 Sculpture & Gardens, Solomon Gallery, Blackrock, Dublin
1993, 1989 Gordon Gallery, Derry
1988 National Museum, Valetta, Malta
1988 West of Ireland Artists in Australia, Wagner Gallery, Sydney & Canberra
1967 Project ’67 (with Charlie Cullen, Michael Kane and John Kelly), Project Arts Centre, Dublin
1965 Group ‘65, Rising Ground
1960-date Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
1960 Irish Exhibition of Living Art
Awards
2008 Ireland-US Council’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Arts
2006 Jorgensen Fine Art Award, Royal Hibernian Academy
2005 ESB Silver Medal, Royal Hibernian Academy
1990 The Ford Spirit of Art Award (in conjunction with the Sunday Independent)
1972 Gold Medal, Oireachtas Exhibition
Selected Public Collections
National Gallery of Ireland
Irish Museum of Modern Art
Dublin City Gallery: The Hugh Lane
Crawford Municipal Gallery of Art, Cork
National Self Portrait Collection of Ireland
United Nations, New York
Shenzen Airport, China
University College, Galway
An Chomhairle Ealaíon / Arts Council of Ireland
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Galway County Council
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council
The Irish Club, London
AIB Bank
Bank of Ireland
Smurfit Kappa PLC
Four Seasons Hotel, Dublin
The UTV Collection