In this exhibition of new work, celebrated Irish sculptor John Behan continues with themes of emigration and the displacement of people, and imagery which depicts the plight of current day migrants and refugees. Over the past two years Behan has made frequent visits to Athens to volunteer at Camp Eleonas, a Greek state-run centre for migrants, delivering art workshops to adults and children arriving into Europe from Iraq, Syria and sub-Saharan Africa. This exhibition includes new works made in response to these experiences alongside examples of Behan's now-iconic Famine Ships and Oarboats.
Due to the latest Level 5 restrictions, JOHN BEHAN's exhibition will be presented online-only until which time we can re-open our doors and welcome collectors and visitors back to the gallery. In the meantime, please click the video link below for a virtual tour of the exhibition or scroll further down to view individual artwork photos and prices:
John Behan RHA is firmly established as a sculptor of international stature and can be credited with playing a major part in the development of sculpture in Ireland over the last fifty years. Born in Dublin in 1938, he began an apprenticeship in metalwork and welding before moving on to formal training at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, Ealing Art College in London and the Royal Academy School in Oslo. He has been awarded many honours over the years and became a member of the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1990, having been an Associate of the Academy since 1973. He is also a member of Aosdána and was conferred an honorary Doctor of Literature by NUI Galway in 2000.
Behan is known for his remarkable and numerous public sculptures, such as the monumental ‘National Famine Memorial’ in County Mayo and the life-size ‘Arrival’ ship sited outside the United Nations building in New York – a gift to the UN from the Irish Government in 2000 (see below). His work is included in many private collections including that of President Michael D Higgins, former Presidents Mary McAleese & Mary Robinson, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Bill & Hillary Clinton; also Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane, the Crawford Municipal Gallery and the National Gallery of Ireland. SCROLL DOWN THIS PAGE FOR MORE INFO.
Due to public health restrictions preventing most people from travel, we would like to offer alternative ways of viewing the exhibition;
- view the video above or click here: https://solomon-web-g6.artlogic.net/exhibitions/53-john-behan-rha-migrants/video/
- please telephone us on +353 (0)86 8142380 if you'd like us to bring artworks on appro to your home or workplace;
- we can walk you around the exhibition via Zoom/Skype/FaceTime video call;
- you can view the exhibition 24 hours a day through our shopfront windows;
- or we will be in the gallery throughout the week operating a 'Click & Collect' service if you have any queries.
Once restrictions are lifted, we hope to have a 'finissage' event with the artist John Behan present to meet guests and collectors on Thursday 3 December. Please subscribe to our mailing list for more info.
* Worldwide packing & shipping service available
JOHN BEHAN: MIGRANTS
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John Behan RHABantry Famine Shipbronze, unique65 x 85 x 28cm -
John Behan RHAAchill Famine Shipbronze, unique75 x 58 x 30cm
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John Behan RHARescue at Seabronze, unique25 x 84 x 40cm
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John Behan RHAAustralian Girl Boatbronze, unique69 x 90 x 36 cm
(base plate 43 x 16cm) -
John Behan RHADesert Migrantsbronze, unique42 x 59 x 42 cm
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John Behan RHAFamine Treebronze, unique71 x 38 x 33cm
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John Behan RHARough Crossingbronze, unique39 x 55 x 28 cm
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John Behan RHAMan Pulling Boat Ashorebronze, unique41 x 61 x 31cm
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John Behan RHASunboatbronze, unique72 x 47 x 18cm
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John Behan RHAFamily Coming Ashorebronze, unique16 x 12 x 9cm
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John Behan RHARough Landing Lesbosbronze, unique15 x 43 x 33 cm
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John Behan RHAChild Crawls Under Wirebronze, unique40.5 x 40.5 x 61cm
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John Behan RHAShelter IIbronze, unique40 x 37 x 20cm
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John Behan RHARefugee Washing in a Barrelbronze, unique43 x 16 x 17cm
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John Behan RHAWar Victimsbronze, unique46 x 23 x 15cm
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John Behan RHAGalway Oarboatbronze, edition of 933 x 41.5 x 20cmEdition of 9 plus 1 artist's proofSolomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Galway Oarboat€ 6,500.00
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John Behan RHABLMbronze, unique57 x 37 x 21 cm
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John Behan RHAMigrantbronze, unique45.5 x 28 x 20.5cm
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John Behan RHACorrib Oar Boatbronze, edition of 934 x 30 x 20.5cmEdition of 9 plus 2 artist's proofsSolomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Corrib Oar BoatSold
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MAJOR PUBLIC SCULPTURES
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NATIONAL FAMINE MEMORIAL
Murrisk, Co. MayoThe National Famine Memorial sits at the foot of Croagh Patrick and commands panoramic views over the landscape of Clew Bay in Co. Mayo. This striking monument by John Behan is Ireland's largest bronze sculpture and commemorates the millions who perished during the Great Famine of 1845 – 52.
Commissioned by Ireland's Office of Public Works, it depicts a 'coffin ship' with skeleton bodies in the rigging (the term Coffin ship was used to describe the horrendously overcrowded boats which left our shores with emigrants fleeing the famine in dire and unhygienic conditions - the mortality rate was 30%).
The monument was unveiled by President Mary Robinson in 1997 to mark the 150th anniversary of the Irish Famine. The Irish film-maker David Shaw Smith made a documentary of the 'Famine Ship' sculpture in in 1999 (Parzival Productions).
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ARRIVAL: A NEW DAWN
UN Headquarters, New York, USAJohn Behan's monumental sculpture 'Arrival: A New Dawn' proudly stands in the gardens of the United Nations headquarters in New York, alongside the East River. The sculpture depicts one of Behan's iconic Famine Ships at the moment when its cargo of Irish immigrants (fleeing the horrors of the Irish Famine back home) are seen descending the gangway to start a new life in the United States of America.
The sculpture was commissioned by the Irish Government in 2000 and was donated to the United Nations to commemorate both the generations of Irish people who emigrated in search of new opportunities, and the international nations that welcomed them and offered new possibilities and freedoms.
The 26-by-24-foot work sits alongside renowned sculptures by famous artists such as Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth. Weighing more than 11 tons, the €500,000 sculpture includes over 150 figures cast in bronze, most of them standing amid the ship’s deck rigging.
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Use the arrows to scroll through a selection of Behan's other major public sculptures
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REVIEWS / NEWSPAPER & TV REPORTS
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NEWS / PRESS COVERAGE
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JOHN BEHAN RHA: NEW WORK UNVEILED BY PRESIDENT HIGGINS
President Higgins unveils new work in the offices of the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the UN October 1, 2019 Irish President Michael D. Higgins unveiled a sculpture by Irish sculptor John Behan at the United Nations Headquarters in New York this week. 'Migrant Boat, Off Sicily' will be placed... -
JOHN BEHAN ON RTE NATIONWIDE
TV programme features interview with artists and a look inside the foundry February 8, 2019 On Wednesday 6 February, RTÉ's Nationwide programme screened a special feature on artist John Behan, focusing on his current projects and his ongoing work with refugees in Athens. The programme... -
NEAR FM: INTERVIEW WITH JOHN BEHAN
Barbara Jennings talks to sculptor John Behan about his exhibition at the Solomon November 7, 2018 NEAR FM on 90.3FM Radio Interview Barbara Jennings talks to sculptor John Behan about his exhibition at the Solomon Gallery. Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:26 —... -
Celebrate Behan at 80
Sunday Business Post November 4, 2018 -
John Behan - the weeks cultural highlight
RTÉ Radio 1’s Today Show November 2, 2018 Culture Preview On RTE Radio 1’s Today Show, Miriam O’Callaghan (standing in for Sean O’Rourke) discussed the cultural highlights of the week with Edel Coffey, Freelance Journalist and Brian Reddin,... -
I Don't Give a Damn What Age I am, I still want to do this
John Behan interview in Sunday Independent October 28, 2018 I don't give a damn what age I am, I want to do this...' As he approaches 80, sculptor John Behan is busier than ever. A new show, a... -
Raging Bull Charges On
John Behan article in Sunday Times October 28, 2018 Raging bull sculptor John Behan charges on The new exhibition from John Behan shows the sculptor has lost none of his anger at injustice John P O’Sullivan The Sunday Times... -
PRESIDENT MICHAEL D HIGGINS ATTENDS JOHN BEHAN OPENING
Social photos from the event - click main photo below to open slideshow October 26, 2018 We had the immense honour of welcoming President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina to the gallery last night for the opening of John Behan’s solo show 'The Seven... -
John Behan longlisted for Savills Prize
VUE Artfair October 8, 2018 The list of nominees for the Savills Prize at VUE Art Fair 2018 (Nov 1-4, RHA Dublin) was revealed in the Sunday Business Post magazine yesterday. Congrats to John Behan... -
John Behan Working With Migrants in Greece
Irish Sculptor Draws on Ireland's Painful Past June 20, 2018 Greek Reporter: report by Declan McVeigh - June 20, 2018 An influential Irish sculptor whose creations have been inspired by his country’s traumatic experience of famine and forced emigration was... -
John Behan Review
Aidan Dunne, Irish Times October 21, 2016 Behan sculpts a Rising vision Review: John Behan at the Solomon Tue, Nov 8, 2016, 06:00 Aidan Dunne John Behan’s “The Bull of Easter II”: “an ingenious amalgam of biology... -
Deconstructing John Behan
Irish Arts Review: interview with Brian McAvera November 1, 2013 Technical developments enable artistic development’: John Behan reflects on the circumstances which spurred his move to sculpture, in conversation here with Brian McAvera B McA: How did you become... -
JOHN BEHAN: Retrospection
Sunday Times Review by Cristín Leach Hughes September 29, 2013 -
The Fine Art of Going Forward
Sunday Independent interview with John Behan September 8, 2013 the fine art of going forward Emily Hourican 8 September 2013 Although approaching his 75th birthday, sculptor John Behan has the round, cherubic face of a man far younger. More...
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PUBLICATIONS
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THE BULL OF SHERIFF STREET
John Behan biography by Adrian FrazierAdrian Frazier’s story about his friend John Behan is an informed, compelling personal account of this remarkable man. It gives focus and depth to the life of one of Ireland’s leading visual artists. The narrative follows Behan’s childhood in east Dublin to his role as a pivotal member of the creative fusion that was 1960s Dublin ‘Baggotonia’ (including Patrick Kavanagh, John Montague, Seamus Heaney, Patrick Pye, Camille Souter and Thomas Kinsella) and of the Independent Artists’ group. John Behan has lived in Galway for many years, helping to establish the region and the city as a creative haven for its many artists and galleries: it is here that author and sculptor became friends.
Hardback: €25.00
Available from Lilliput Press
