Kevin Sharkey

Kevin Sharkey has been a full-time artist since 1992 and is a phenomenon; he is Ireland’s most prolific and successful artist ever. Creating large bold colourful paintings, in an original contemporary style. He has sold over 10,000 paintings worldwide.

His work is collected by presidents, Picasso collectors, and collectors of Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud. He has recently been admitted to the Mel T Sutcliffe collection which includes many of the world’s top artists.

He has galleries dedicated to his work in Ibiza, London and Dublin. Sharkey has been painting from the age of 12 years old and only went public with his distinct and highly collectable art at the age of 38.

He has been voted “Irelands most collectable artist” by The Sunday Tribune and has been called “A true Irish legend” by The Irish Independent. The Irish Times Money section urged its readers to “Bank on this artist”.

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]

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.

 

 

Full Name: Kevin Sharkey

Born: June 3rd 1961.

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.