Justin O'Brien Image and Icon

Justin O'Brien once said, 'A painting should have a reality of its own'. This overview of the artist's life and work presents an opportunity to examine this statement following a career of sixty years of painting and drawing. O'Brien's belief in the specific reality of painting was emphasised by his continued reference to art of the past in both style and theme, while in his more recent naturalistic works he set up a debate between things intended to be real and painted versions of reality. The recombining of motifs from his own previous works stressed the reality of the painting compared to that of the naturalistic world. Justin O'Brien died in Rome in January 1996. This fully revised and expanded edition discusses the works in the context of the artist's life and the times in which they were produced. Also included is a lengthy interview with the painter which throws light on his artistic influences and on his creative process.