Solomon Fine Art is delighted to host an exhibition of new works in bronze by one of Ireland’s most celebrated sculptors. In his latest work John Behan continues to observe and explore themes of emigration and the displacement of people through the lens of Irish history, mythology and literature. Walking into Eternity tackles scenes and imagery which depict the plight of present-day immigrants and refugees with a focus on the current war in Ukraine and Gaza. The exhibition also includes new examples of Behan’s now-iconic Famine Ships and oarboats.  

 

As a counterpoint, a number of new sculptures pay tribute to James Joyce’s Ulysses, from where the exhibition title derives, and offer some humour and light relief from the weight of the exhibition’s more confronting themes. 

 

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’s public art commissions are almost too many to mention, but include the magnificent National Famine Memorial in Murrisk, Co. Mayo, the Flight of the Earls in Rathmullan, Co Donegal, the monumental Arrival: A New Dawn ship outside the U.N. Headquarters, New York and Wings of the World at Shenzhen Airport in China. His work can also be found in the prestigious public collections of the National Gallery of Ireland, IMMA, Dublin City Gallery: the Hugh Lane, the Ulster Museum, Belfast, the Crawford Municipal Gallery, Cork and in almost all our national County Municipal Art Collections.

 

In 2024 John Behan was the subject of the feature-length film documentary ODYSSEY: JOHN BEHAN which was directed by Donald Taylor Black.  

JOHN BEHAN: WALKING INTO ETERNITY

  • John Behan RHA, Cubist Bull, 2024
    John Behan RHA
    Cubist Bull, 2024
    bronze, unique
    138 x 184 x 92 cm
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Cubist Bull, 2024
    € 35,000.00
  • John Behan RHA, Australia Woman Boat, 2024
    John Behan RHA
    Australia Woman Boat, 2024
    bronze
    72 x 67 x 32 cm
    Edition of 9
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Australia Woman Boat, 2024
    € 15,500.00
  • John Behan RHA, Sinking Migrant Boat
  • John Behan RHA, Children Seeking Food, Gaza, 2024
  • John Behan RHA, L.T. Famine Ship, 2017
    John Behan RHA
    L.T. Famine Ship, 2017
    bronze, unique
    68 x 63.5 x 28 cm
    € 19,500.00
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
  • John Behan RHA, Boys Escaping Gaza on Trolley, 2024
    John Behan RHA
    Boys Escaping Gaza on Trolley, 2024
    bronze, unique
    45 x 53 x 15cm
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Boys Escaping Gaza on Trolley, 2024
    € 11,700.00
  • John Behan RHA, Van Gogh's Boots, 2024
    John Behan RHA
    Van Gogh's Boots, 2024
    bronze
    23 x 30 x 33cm
    Edition of 9
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Van Gogh's Boots, 2024
    € 11,500.00
  • John Behan RHA, Kerala Oar Boat
    John Behan RHA
    Kerala Oar Boat
    bronze, unique
    39 x 48 x 28cm
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Kerala Oar Boat
    € 11,500.00
  • John Behan RHA, Kerala River Boat
    John Behan RHA
    Kerala River Boat
    bronze, unique
    40 x 52 x 29cm
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Kerala River Boat
    € 11,000.00
  • John Behan RHA, Four Oarsmen, 2024
    John Behan RHA
    Four Oarsmen, 2024
    bronze
    50 x 44 x 5 cm
    Edition of 9
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Four Oarsmen, 2024
    € 9,800.00
  • John Behan RHA, Gaza Woman Lamenting Her Children, 2024
    John Behan RHA
    Gaza Woman Lamenting Her Children, 2024
    bronze, unique
    45 x 26 x 19 cm
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Gaza Woman Lamenting Her Children, 2024
    € 9,500.00
  • John Behan RHA, Bob Doran & Garryowen, 2024
    John Behan RHA
    Bob Doran & Garryowen, 2024
    bronze, unique
    40 x 51 x 22cm
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Bob Doran & Garryowen, 2024
    € 9,500.00
  • John Behan RHA, Aran Famine Ship, 2024
    John Behan RHA
    Aran Famine Ship, 2024
    bronze
    57 x 45 x 22 cm
    Edition of 9 plus 1 artist's proof
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Aran Famine Ship, 2024
    Sold
  • John Behan RHA, Endymion, 2024
    John Behan RHA
    Endymion, 2024
    bronze, unique
    64 x 26 x 19cm
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Endymion, 2024
    € 9,000.00
  • John Behan RHA, Boy With Food Pot, 2024
    John Behan RHA
    Boy With Food Pot, 2024
    bronze, unique
    43 x 28 x 26 cm
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Boy With Food Pot, 2024
    € 8,750.00
  • John Behan RHA, Eastern Dancers, 2024
    John Behan RHA
    Eastern Dancers, 2024
    bronze
    30 x 62 x 22 cm
    Edition of 9
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Eastern Dancers, 2024
    € 8,500.00
  • John Behan RHA, Boy-defender, Ukraine, 2024
    John Behan RHA
    Boy-defender, Ukraine, 2024
    bronze, unique
    48 x 33 x 19 cm
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Boy-defender, Ukraine, 2024
    € 7,750.00
  • John Behan RHA, Warrior Boat, 2024
  • John Behan RHA, Mother and Child Fleeing Gaza, 2024
    John Behan RHA
    Mother and Child Fleeing Gaza, 2024
    bronze, unique
    36 x 34 x 16 cm
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Mother and Child Fleeing Gaza, 2024
    € 7,700.00
  • John Behan RHA, Van Gogh's Boots on Chair, 2024
  • John Behan RHA, Peregrinations of Mr. Bloom
    John Behan RHA
    Peregrinations of Mr. Bloom
    bronze
    43 x 13 x 13cm
    Edition of 9
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Peregrinations of Mr. Bloom
    € 7,000.00
  • John Behan RHA, Parkavera Oar Boat, 2024
    John Behan RHA
    Parkavera Oar Boat, 2024
    bronze
    31 x 42 x 7 cm
    Edition of 9
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Parkavera Oar Boat, 2024
    € 6,500.00
  • John Behan RHA, Water Carrier, Gaza, 2024
    John Behan RHA
    Water Carrier, Gaza, 2024
    bronze, unique
    29 x 43 x 19 cm
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Water Carrier, Gaza, 2024
    € 5,800.00
  • John Behan RHA, Lavitt Bull
    John Behan RHA
    Lavitt Bull
    bronze
    Edition of 9
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Lavitt Bull
    € 5,800.00
  • John Behan RHA, Stephen Dedalus, 2024
    John Behan RHA
    Stephen Dedalus, 2024
    bronze, unique
    40 x 19 x 15.5cm
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Stephen Dedalus, 2024
    € 5,800.00
  • John Behan RHA, Rilke's Angel, 2024
    John Behan RHA
    Rilke's Angel, 2024
    bronze, unique
    45 x 36 x 17 cm
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Rilke's Angel, 2024
    € 5,800.00
  • John Behan RHA, Two Oarsmen, 2024
    John Behan RHA
    Two Oarsmen, 2024
    bronze
    50 x 16.5 x 12.5 cm
    Edition of 9
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Two Oarsmen, 2024
    € 5,800.00
  • John Behan RHA, Greek Birds in Tree, 2024
  • John Behan RHA, Launching The Currachs, 2024
    John Behan RHA
    Launching The Currachs, 2024
    bronze
    18 x 53 x 15 cm
    Edition of 9
    € 5,000.00
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
  • John Behan RHA, Flour Bag Carrier, Gaza, 2024
    John Behan RHA
    Flour Bag Carrier, Gaza, 2024
    bronze, unique
    38 x 23 x 33 cm
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Flour Bag Carrier, Gaza, 2024
    € 4,000.00
  • John Behan RHA, Flight
  • John Behan RHA, Malnourished Girl, Gaza, 2024
    John Behan RHA
    Malnourished Girl, Gaza, 2024
    bronze, unique
    20 x 25.5 x 10cm
    Courtesy of Solomon Fine Art
    Solomon Fine Art - John Behan RHA, Malnourished Girl, Gaza, 2024
    € 2,500.00