PETER KILLEEN: The Medieval Bestiary

Solomon Fine Art is delighted to host an exhibition of new works in bronze by Irish Sculptor Peter Killeen.  

Killeen’s immensely appealing and timeless representations of birds and wild animals have a distinctive and very particular charm, each warmly animated and softly rounded in form with carefully worked, richly coloured patinas. This new body of work is inspired by medieval bestiary manuscripts popular in Europe in the Middle Ages. Inspired by the combination of natural histories and moralistic tales contained within these illuminated volumes, Killeen has masterfully captured in bronze a range of beasts, both mythical and real which bring to life these intriguing illustrations and stories. 

Born in Dublin in 1977, Peter Killeen began working for the highly regarded Cast Bronze Foundry in 1996 where he was first introduced to the Cire Perdue (lost wax) method of bronze casting and subsequently began casting his own work. In 2003 he began work with the Australian Bronze Sculpture House in Sydney where he became head bronze caster.  After years of working alongside some of Ireland’s leading sculptors Killeen has become a master of his craft and continues to be hands-on at every stage of the casting process.  He lives and works in Co. Cork. 

Killeen’s sculptures have been exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy, the Oireachtas, the Wexford Opera Festival and at Sculpture in Context. His works are included in both public and private collections including AIB Bank, Wexford County Council, Adare Manor and in private collections in the UK, Japan, USA, Australia and Switzerland.