20 May–17 July 2022

Charles Tyrrell: Between the Lines

100 drawings, 2002–2022

Installation view, photograph by Con Kelleher

Charles Tyrrell, G5.20, 2020, mixed media on paper, 594 x 420 mm; €1200 unframed

Charles Tyrrell has lived and worked in Allihies on the Beara peninsula since 1984. Originally from Meath, he studied art at the National College of Art and Design, graduating in 1974. Since then his work has been exclusively concerned with abstraction. He has exhibited extensively in Ireland and abroad and has represented Ireland in international exhibitions on a number of occasions. His work is represented in major national collections including, IMMA, The Crawford Gallery and The Hugh Lane Gallery. Charles is an associate member of The Royal Hibernian Academy and a member of Aosdána. He is represented by Taylor Galleries, Dublin.

Painting for me is a bit like mining for ore. Digging deep in search of rich veins. Intense, physical, precarious activity. With drawing, I see more of a parallel to fishing. I grew up fly fishing on the Boyne. Slow activity, observing quietly, steadily casting. Waiting for the moment.

While the drawings generally do not feed directly into the paintings they have a role in the scheme of things. They inform me, feed me and indirectly influence my paint thinking. While I do draw towards the paintings, it is drawing of a different kind. Plotting and planning, defining an arena in which I see possibilities for building with paint. This drawing can be strategic and pragmatic. A step on the way. Rarely seen as an end.

Charles Tyrrell

Allihies, April 2022

The exhibition, the gallery's inaugural show, was opened on 20 May 2022 by Kate Kennelly, Kerry's Arts Officer who warmly welcomed the establishment of our new independent gallery for contemporary art.

Charlie and Robert were interviewed by Kaya Flynn for Radio Kerry the following day: https://www.radiokerry.ie/podcasts/travels-through-a-kingdom/grilse-gallery-travels-through-a-kingdom-285687