Christy Keeney

Irish artist Christy Keeney lives and works in County Donegal. His sculpted slab built heads and figure demonstrate a wonderful sense of draughtsmanship as details are drawn into the wet clay surfaces.

“I see my work more as 3D paintings than as sculptures or ceramics. The form is built up and sketched till almost flat, like a canvas, ready to take the drawing, which will outline the head or portrait. These flat heads represent ordinary people. They are a study of the many varied features and expressions that make up the human face. The figures usually attempt to express the human spirit in its many forms. I like to work with the clay blindly, letting the moment dictate my progress. When I see the form develop to some conclusion, then I’ll add the features.”

Qualifications: 
1985-87 Royal College of Art - MA Ceramics
1983-84 Lived and worked in Roundstone, Connemara
1980-82 Limerick School of Art & Design – BA Ceramics
1978-79 Regional College,Letterkenn y,Co. Donegal – Art Foundation

Commissioned work:
2005- 5 Large heads for P&O Cruise Ferries
2004- 7 Figures for “Marketing Ireland”
1997- 12 Figures for Irish Post Award Ceremony, London
1993- Head commissioned by RT. Hon.John Butcher, MP, London
1988- Head commissioned by HRH The Prince of Wale
1986- 5 Heads commissioned by the late Sir Eduardo Paolozzi

Awards:
2004 – National Crafts Award, RDS Dublin
1989 – First Prize Open Ceramics Competition, Lisburn, N.Ireland
1985 – Irish Arts Council Study Award, Royal College of Art, London

Exhibitions:

2006 One man show, An Grainnan Theatre, Letterkenny Co. Donegal.
‘Celtic Influence’ The Stour Gallery, Warwickshire
2005 Bridge Gallery, Dublin
Cavehill Gallery, Belfast
Castle-Upton Gallery, Templepatrick, N.Ireland
The Stour Gallery, Warwickshire
2004 R.D.S National Craft Competition winner
“Keane on Ceramics” Kinsale, Co. Cork
2003 Simon Drew Gallery, Dartmouth ,Devon
2002 Norton Gallery, Malaga, Spain
Figurative Show, Miller gallery, Broadway, New York
2001 The Figurative Show, Contemporary Ceramics Gallery, London
The White Gallery, Brighton
2000 S.O.F.A. Ceramic Fair, Chicago
1999 Gallery Upstairs, Henley in Arden, Roundhouse Gallery, Burton on Trent, Rufford Ceramic Show, Nottingham                           City Art Gallery, Leeds
1998 Contemporary Applied Art Gallery, London
1996 Group Show, Slovenia
1995 Whitechapel Open Studio, London
1994 Solo Show, Letterkenny Museum, Donegal
1993 Andrew Erskins Gallery, Hampstead, London
Solo Show Sue Williams Gallery, Portobello Rd. London