Paul's visual influence is drawn from his surroundings, landscape, imagination, memories and emotions, these influences are primarily a catalyst for expressing connection to divinity and are therefore secondary to this expression, the primary purpose being process, allowing, presence and place. The practive of allowing and presence throughout the creative process is a catharsis, deliverance from the ego mind, a meditation in present moment practice.
The varied and stunning Irish landscape, coupled with our unsettled weather and therefore often fleeting and mottled right, inspires him greatly. Often a view will change or an area will be illuminated by a simple break in the clouds, highlighting as if a shimmering treasure or jewel, a corner of a field, the side of some rocky cliff or the connected to a whole. Effectively, this encourages us to see and most importantly feel its beauty and spirit therefore reconnecting to this vital part of us.
The Suggestion of heaven and earth in constant struggle, merging yet separable, solid yet amorphous all suggest the multidimensional nature of spiritual, the beginning and the end, the alpha and omega, the struggle within, between the conditioned sel and the divine/spiritual self.
Wexford, Ireland (Gorey) based painter Paul McCloskey originally from Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan attended the National College of Art and Design (N.C.A.D) Dublin and also De Montfort University UK where he received a master’s degree in fine art (MFA) in 2010. In 2021/22 Paul completed the Turps London CC art course. He has been involved in visual art education for over 30 years.
Paul is a professional member of ‘visual artists Ireland’. He has exhibited extensively both nationally and internationally throughout the UK, London, Manchester, Nottingham, Venice, Paris, Macedonia, Bulgaria and New York.
His work is held in many collections including OPW (office of public works) state art collection, the Osten Art collection, Gallery of Drawing Macedonia, Monaghan and Wexford County council collections, Ulster Hospital Belfast, Monaghan VEC, RTE, Irish Bank of Commerce, Kavanagh Heritage Centre, Smurfit art collection as well as numerous private collections.He was the 2016 recipient of the special award by the international jury at the Osten Biennial of Drawing/Works on paper in Skopje, Macedonia where five of his works now form a permanent part of the 'World Gallery Of Drawing Collection' of the Museum of Drawing/Works on Paper.He was one of 13 artists shortlisted for the ‘London Contemporary Art Award’ 2018 where he was awarded the 'materials bursary award'. Paul received Arts Council funding (Agility award) in 2021 and 2022 in support of his practice, as well as bursaries from Arts Links Wexford and Monaghan Co. Council on several occasions.
Paul’s work is included in many important publications including ‘Art Talk Collective’, ‘Artmoire’, Italy, USA, 'The Contemporary Art Review' UK, ‘ART QA’ New York, ‘Creative Quarterly’ – The Journal of Art and Design, New York, ‘Gallery and Studio’ Visual Art Magazine, New York as well as two books on ‘The State of Art ‘UK, Landscape and 3d and ‘EXHIBEO’ ‘Selected Art Reviews and Interviews' - vol. 1' -Jonathan Raddatz – Quebec.
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