June Art Auction Lot 60 - Boats In The Harbour by Norah McGuinness
Norah McGuinness was a landscape painter, designer and illustrator born in Derry. In spite of disapproval from her family, she entered the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art in 1921 where she won a scholarship tenable for three years. She continued her education in London at the Chelsea Polytechnic for several months. In 1924, she was awarded the Royal Dublin Society medal for drawings entered in the Tailteann competition, the same year she first exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy. McGuinness also designed costumes, sets and decorations for the Abbey Theatre, and completed commissions for both book and fashion illustrations.
Whilst studying in London, McGuinness was involved with Lucy Wertheim's 'Twenties Group' and the avant-garde London Group. An ardent supporter of young artists, Wertheim exhibited works by Henry Moore, Walter Sickert, and Frances Hodgkins from the beginning of their careers. She was influential in providing a platform for young modern artists to exhibit in London. Wertheim also exhibited works by Kenneth Hall and Basil Rakoczi whom McGuinness would continue to encounter once the White Stag Group relocated to Dublin. In 1929, McGuinness choose to study in Paris, partly on the advice of Mainie Jellett, under Andre Lhote.
From 1937-39 McGuinness lived in New York, where she continued to exhibit while also creating illustrations for Harper’s Bazaar and designing windows for Altman’s department store. Her work was included in the 1939 New York World Fair. She returned to Ireland in 1939, settling in Dublin with a focus on painting. As a founding member of the Irish Exhibition of Living Art, McGuinness also served as its second president from 1944 to 1971 during the exhibiton's formative years. The IELA established as a space to display work by contemporary artists regardless of their prescribed school or style. It provided a forum for debate and expansion regarding definitions of Irish Art, encouraging abstract expressionism and the avant-garde. Regarding McGuinness’s exhibition at the Victor Waddington Gallery in 1949, the Dublin Magazine wrote, ‘at its best the work of Norah McGuinness is forthright, spontaneous and dramatic...' In 1950, McGuinness was chosen, along with Nano Reid, to represent Ireland at the Venice Biennale.
In 1968, a retrospective exhibition was held at Trinity College Dublin displaying over 100 pieces of McGuinness’ work. She is represented in the National Gallery of Ireland, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Hugh Lane Gallery, Ulster Museum and the Crawford Gallery.
Norah McGuinness was a landscape painter, designer and illustrator born in Derry. In spite of disapproval from her family, she entered the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art in 1921 where she won a scholarship tenable for three years. She continued her education in London at the Chelsea Polytechnic for several months. In 1924, she was awarded the Royal Dublin Society medal for drawings entered in the Tailteann competition, the same year she first exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy. McGuinness also designed costumes, sets and decorations for the Abbey Theatre, and completed commissions for both book and fashion illustrations.
Whilst studying in London, McGuinness was involved with Lucy Wertheim's 'Twenties Group' and the avant-garde London Group. An ardent supporter of young artists, Wertheim exhibited works by Henry Moore, Walter Sickert, and Frances Hodgkins from the beginning of their careers. She was influential in providing a platform for young modern artists to exhibit in London. Wertheim also exhibited works by Kenneth Hall and Basil Rakoczi whom McGuinness would continue to encounter once the White Stag Group relocated to Dublin. In 1929, McGuinness choose to study in Paris, partly on the advice of Mainie Jellett, under Andre Lhote.
From 1937-39 McGuinness lived in New York, where she continued to exhibit while also creating illustrations for Harper’s Bazaar and designing windows for Altman’s department store. Her work was included in the 1939 New York World Fair. She returned to Ireland in 1939, settling in Dublin with a focus on painting. As a founding member of the Irish Exhibition of Living Art, McGuinness also served as its second president from 1944 to 1971 during the exhibiton's formative years. The IELA established as a space to display work by contemporary artists regardless of their prescribed school or style. It provided a forum for debate and expansion regarding definitions of Irish Art, encouraging abstract expressionism and the avant-garde. Regarding McGuinness’s exhibition at the Victor Waddington Gallery in 1949, the Dublin Magazine wrote, ‘at its best the work of Norah McGuinness is forthright, spontaneous and dramatic...' In 1950, McGuinness was chosen, along with Nano Reid, to represent Ireland at the Venice Biennale.
In 1968, a retrospective exhibition was held at Trinity College Dublin displaying over 100 pieces of McGuinness’ work. She is represented in the National Gallery of Ireland, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Hugh Lane Gallery, Ulster Museum and the Crawford Gallery.
