Artists

Only 24 years old, Francis McCrory from North Belfast is one of Ireland's most exciting young artists.   A Fine Arts Graduate of the University of Ulster, he has already been selected for major Irish exhibitions, and has received awards for “Best Emerging Artist”… twice!…the Diageo Award in 2006, and again in October 2007 with the prestigious KPMG Award for Best Emerging Artist at the Royal Ulster Academy Exhibition.  

Francis’ first solo Exhibition, at Belfast’s Belmont Tower in 2007, was a sell-out, and he’s included in a number of major private collections.

His most recent Exhibition, entitled “Metropolis” at the Emer Gallery in March 2008 was a huge success.  Many of the scenes in Francis’ canvasses will be familiar to residents of the city. They include the Transport & General Workers’ Building in High Street, Katy Daly’s Bar and Shaftesbury Square.

North Belfast also features prominently, with paintings of Belfast Royal Academy, the Floral Hall, and the Alexander Bar.  However it is his powerful paintings of derelict buildings such as the Shirt Factory on the Limestone Road, the old Cinema interior, houses in Tigers Bay and the Tyre business on the Shore Road which strike a real chord simply because of their very “ordinariness”.
The paintings and subject matter in this show strongly reflect Francis’ artistic influences ….the haunting canvasses of Edward Hopper, the urban wastelands of Scottish artist Jock McFadyen, and the raw documentary style of American photographer Joel Sternfeld.  Francis also studied for a year in Denver Colorado, a period which helped develop his mixed media and multi- layering techniques.

Mike McCann, Honorary Secretary of the Royal Ulster Academy, commented: “Francis McCrory really is an exciting and talented young artist.  His works are original, highly competent and boldly painted.  He creates breath-taking and poignant scenes which compel the viewer to consider urban decay and neglect in a different light”