Blur album designer Opie set for debut Irish solo show

Internationally-acclaimed art icon, Julian Opie, who designed the cover of Blur’s ‘Best Of’ album, is set to stage his first Irish solo exhibition later this month.

One of Britain’s most renowned contemporary artists, Opie is recognisable among Dubliners for his permanent digital sculpture ‘Suzanne Walking’, outside Dublin’s Hugh Lane Gallery.

He also created an LED projection for U2’s Vertigo world tour in 2006.

Opie’s first Irish solo exhibition will run at Gormleys Dublin from January 18 to February 8.

This highly anticipated show will offer visitors a rare opportunity to experience a collection of his striking and innovative visual language in Ireland.

Known for his iconic portraits, which simplify human figures into geometric forms and bold outlines, Opie’s new pieces extend his exploration of abstraction and human identity into new dimensions.

“Julian Opie’s art is both timeless and forward-thinking,” said James Gormley.

“His unique ability to distil the complexities of the human experience into simplified, iconic forms has made him a key figure in contemporary art.”

This month will also see iconic Irish figurative artist Gordon Harris feature at Gormleys’ Belfast gallery – from this weekend until January 31.

Harris, who was first inspired to paint to paint his daughters when his eldest, Elise, was in hospital with meningitis on her third birthday, is set to showcase the latest in a series following his children into adulthood.

Using her sketch pad, he initially captured Elise during her hospital stay when she was sitting up in bed, and for the past 17 years has continued to paint all three of his daughters.

The pieces began with recurring themes of protection while the girls were young, and have since expanded into encompassing their strong wills and strengths.

His most recent work, The Golden Empress, captures Elise ahead of her 20^th birthday and carries the message from her father not to concern herself with fools.

This piece will feature at an exhibition of Harris’ work at Gormleys Belfast, which runs from this Saturday until January 31.

Both exhibitions are free to the public. See Gormleys.ie for more information.