About the Artists Database

The NIVAL Artists Database has been compiled in order to improve public access to the Library's extensive information files on 20th century and contemporary Irish artists.  These files contain exhibition catalogues, newspaper cuttings and ephemera on over 3,500 artists born or based in Ireland.

The Artists Database is a reference resource providing basic biographical and work details on each artist abstracted from the information contained in the hard copy files held in the Library.  It is important to realise that the records are a summary of the information held in each artist's file.  A visit to NIVAL is recommended to researchers seeking a comprehensive view of the actual files.

Although we have endeavoured to ensure the information is correct, it is inevitable, given the diverse sources of information, that some inaccuracies may occur.  Changes and updates are made on an ongoing basis and the Library welcomes suggestions, criticism, and donations of relevant material.

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  • Reference Code:IE/NIVAL AR/406
  • First Name: Brian
  • Last Name: Connolly
  • Gender: Male
  • Date of Birth: 1961
  • Place of Birth: Ballymoney, Co. Antrim
  • Nationality: Irish
  • Area Of Practice:
    • Sculpture
    • Time Based Art
  • Artwork Type Technique:
    • Installation
    • Bronze
    • Performance Art
  • Abstract/Figurative: Abstract
  • Genre:
    • Performance
    • Public Sculpture
  • Public Art: Yes
  • Size: 11
  • Manuscript Material: No
  • Physical Location: Artist Files Collection
  • Public Collection:
    • Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

other Info Source:

Buckman's Dictionary of Artists in Britain since 1945 (1998)

Education

1984 University of Ulster, Belfast, BA Fine Art.
1985 University of Ulster, Belfast, MA Fine Art.

Notes

Connolly's performance and sculptural installation pieces explore the idea of counterbalance and tension. He creates delicate and precarious works that are visually and phsically interrelated. An associate lecturer of sculpture at the University of Ulster, Belfast, he received many public commissions including; the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Department of Education for Northern Ireland, Stena Line and Dublin Corporation. He was a board member of the Sculptors' Society of Ireland and the Association of Artists in Ireland from 1992-1995. He has also been a board member and co-instigator of Diaspora Project, Living Art Projects, Circa magazine editorial, Nomad Territories and the Project Arts Centre. He has served on the management committee of BBeyond as Chair and Vice Chair, and the former Moyle Art in Public Places, all which initiated and developed projects that deal with aspects of contextual art. He established the Belfast International Festival of Performance Art in 2013.
File contains catalogue of artists work.
NIVAL also holds three boxes of the artists own records relating to his public art commissions. Photographic documentation of exhibitions involving this artist at The Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast are available in NIVAL. Search online special collections under "Fenderesky Gallery Image Collection" for more information.

There is a file in the digital ephemera related to this artist. If you have a login then click here to access it.