Kevin Sharkey has been a full-time artist since 1992 and has become one of Ireland’s most talked about artists. He was recently described by Ireland’s Evening Herald newspaper as ‘Ireland’s most collectable artist’ with work owned by collectors worldwide.
He has had sellout exhibitions in Dublin, London, Ibiza, Amsterdam and New York. In 2007 his What Colour Are Kisses? exhibition sold out completely within 48 hours. He has had gallery shows solely dedicated to his work in Dublin, Donegal, Mayo, Boyle, Ibiza and London’s Mayfair. His painting Roisin raised 26,100 euro in 2008 for People in Need in the RTÉ Telethon. His more controversial (conceptual) work has included ‘Pierce Brosnan’s Arse’ (which was banned by Unicef), Samantha Mumba’s bust and ‘Moolah’ (life sized cow covered in 50,000 euro of real banknotes – during the height of Ireland’s Celtic Tiger phenomenon).[citation needed]
More currently, his Public Enemy Number One exhibition is on a twelve date tour of the world (including New York, Tokyo, Rome and Rio). The controversial exhibition features amongst others Jordan as Myra Hindley, Barack Obama wearing Ku Klux Klan robes (made from U.S. flags), the Pope marrying a gay couple, a Black Bono and Angelina Jolie & Madonna passing each other in a supermarket aisle pushing trolleys full of multi-racial children. Sharkey is an internationally successful interior designer creating bold commercial and domestic interiors in Ireland, the UK, the US and Spain. One of his design projects featured in RTÉ’s Celebrity Showhouse recently.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dublin, Ireland
Nationality Irish
Field Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Printmaking, Ceramics, Illustration, DesignKevin Sharkey (born 1962) (Irish: Caoimhín Ó Searcaigh) is an Irish artist and designer.Early life:Sharkey was born in Dublin in 1962, but was brought up in the small town of Killybegs, County Donegal.
Earlier career:
Kevin Sharkey was formerly a chef, nude model (photographed by David Bailey), interior designer, photographer and songwriter (for Bob Geldof and Boney M, for example). He was Ireland’s first ever non-white television presenter on RTÉ’s ‘Megamix’ and went on to present ‘The Roxy’ music show on ITV in the UK. He also appeared several times in Father Ted as Father Shaft, as well as becoming a ‘farmhand’ in Celebrity Farm.[citation needed]
He has spoken about being bisexual.