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Paul McCloskey
Born 1963
Lives and works in Wexford, Ireland
www.paulmccloskey.ie

Awakenings Reloaded is the second in the
series of a developing trilogy by painter Paul
McCloskey, building on the previous series
‘THE ALPHA (Awakenings)’, also inspired by
the landscape; what we perceive as every
day and perhaps ordinary, the places we
merely glance at without allowing ourselves
to get lost in the breath-taking creation and
beauty that surrounds us. This visual infl uence
is determined by the surrounding landscape of
his environment. But its intention is primarily as
a catalyst in expressing divinity and is therefore
secondary to this expression, with the primary
purpose being process, allowing and presence.
This suggestion of heaven and earth in constant
struggle, merging yet separable, solid yet
amorphous all suggest the dichotomy of the
spiritual, the beginning and the end, the alpha
and omega, the struggle within, between the
conditioned self and the divine/spiritual self.
McCloskey’s paintings have been described as
‘visually delicious’, in particular the ‘Reloaded’
series which utilize the textural qualities of the
paint, they are painterly, luxuriant and rich in
appearance. At fi rst glance we are welcomed
with what’s seemingly proverbial, landscape,
however both in the ‘Alpha’ and ‘Reloaded’
series we are drawn into a primordial world,
the quintessence, the beginning. McCloskey
is an intelligent painter, he asks us to look, but
more importantly feel the essence of his work,
to experience this egoless place as viewer as
he experienced as painter. These powerful
works of brilliance are born of spirit and integrity,
they deserve our attention and encourage us
the onlooker to participate and experience
their spirit.
PAUL McCLOSKEY was born in Carrickmacross, Co.
Monaghan, Ireland and is now living and working
in Gorey Co. Wexford. Paul attended the National
College of Art and Design (N.C.A.D) Dublin from 1981
and graduated in 1986 (ANCAD) (PGdipEd). Paul also
attended De Montfort University UK and was awarded
a Masters Degree in Fine art (MFA) in 2011. Paul is a
professional member of ‘visual artists Ireland’. Paul has
exhibited extensively both nationally and internationally
throughout the UK, London, Venice and New York and
he has received multiple awards for his work, which can
be seen in numerous collections.

Top: Awakening Reloaded Blue and Gold, 2010, Oil on canvas. Top: Awakening Reloaded Blue-green 1, 2010, Oil on paper/board with gold paint.
h: 64cm w: 64cm, Monaghan County Council Art Collection. h: 63cm w: 75cm, Monaghan County Council Art Collection.
Above: Awakening Reloaded in Violet 4, 2010, Oil on canvas. h: 64cm w: 64cm, Above: Awakening Autumn, 2006, Oil on canvas.
Monaghan County Council Art Collection. h: 91cm w: 152cm, Private Collection.

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