Biography
Michael Canning was born in Limerick in 1971, he studied there at the School of Art & Design and then in Greece at the School of Fine Arts in Athens. In 1999, he received his Masters Degree in Fine Art from the National College of Art & Design in Dublin. In 2003, Canning was awarded the Royal Academy’s prestigious Hennessy Craig Prize. Canning’s work has been shown widely across the United Kingdom, Ireland and Europe.
Michael Canning’s paintings of hedgerow plants confront certain traditions of northern European painting. Neither landscapes, nor still lifes, Canning’s work conveys an atmospheric quality laden with spiritual undertones. Heavy mists shroud the rolling hills of the Irish landscape which part only for the wild plants.The plants are rendered directly from observation. Michael finds the plants on daily walks near his home in County Limerick. Michael Canning has won several awards for his works, including the Oriel Gallery Award from the RHA (2007) and the Arts Council of Ireland Award (1996).
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2023 The Deeper Air, Lyndsey Ingram, London, UK
2020 Dust Secrets, and Drawings for Photography, Waterhouse & Dodd, London
2018 Your Cyclical Natures, Oliver Sears Gallery, Dublin 2017
2017 Matter Motion Minutes, Waterhouse & Dodd, London 2016
2016 The Respectful Distance, Oliver Sears Gallery, Dublin 2015
2015 New Paintings, Catherine Hammond Gallery, West Cork
2014 Language and Information, Waterhouse & Dodd, London
2012 Selected Works, Ballinglen Artists Foundation, Mayo
2012 There are no bells, Waterhouse & Dodd, London
2011 Michael Canning, Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin
2010 New Works, Catherine Hammond Gallery, West Cork
2010 The light for the lark’s notes, Waterhouse & Dodd, London
2008 Vangard Gallery, Cork, Ireland
2006 Hallward Gallery, Dublin
1997 Limerick City Gallery of Art, Limerick
1994 Arts Council of Ireland, Dublin
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023 Natural Surroundings. Verduyn Gallery, Moregem, Belgium
2022 Parklife, The Glucksman, Cork
2021 Herbal Remedies: Michael Canning, Joanna Kirk, Michael Landy, William Wright, Lyndsey Ingram, London
2021 Stoney Road Press: 20 Years – A Survey, Ballinglen Museum of Art, County Mayo, Ireland
2021 Another Place Landscapes since 1958, Dolan/Maxwell, Philadelphia
2020 Nature Observed, Lyndsey Ingram, London
2020 Great Small Works, Stephane Simoens Fine Art, Knokke, Belgium
2019 Winter Garden, Lyndsey Ingram, London
2019 251st Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy, London – Invited Artist
2013 Launch, SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin
2010 Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin
2008, 2009 RHA Open Exhibition, Dublin
2009 Ballinglen Arts Foundation, Mayo, Ireland
2007 Pallas Contemporary Projects, Dublin
2006 Irish Art, John Martin Gallery, at Lalique, New York
Awards
2017 CHAO Art Centre Printmaking Studio Residency, Beijing
2009 Graphic Studio, Dublin, Visiting Artists Fellowship
2007 Ballinglen Arts Foundation Fellowship, County Mayo, Ireland
2007 The Oriel Gallery Award, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
2006 Fergus O’Ryan RHA Memorial Award, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
2004 BIDA Silver Award, Best Solo Exhibition, ArtLondon 2004, England
2003 Hennessy Craig Award, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
1996 Arts Council of Ireland
1995 EV+A Open Award, Limerick
1994 Arts Council of Ireland
1992 Greek Government Scholarship