Nicholas Byrne
B. 1979, U.K.
Lives and works in London
News
Nicholas Byrne and Athea Hamilton in LOVE IV: Cold Shower, 2016Schinkel Pavillion, Berlin
Biography
Download as PDFNicholas Byrne’s paintings on copper unite abstract and figurative elements with a strong sensibility for colour and formal harmony. A key part of Byrne’s work is his interest in symbols and forms with recurring motifs and geometric shapes, which the artist overlays with areas of colour rendered in different textures.
Exploring Byrne’s practice in 2021, Tom Morton writes, “While Byrne concedes that his work has the general ‘stink’ of mid-century British Modernism, it is more concerned with the stewardship and perversion of a visual language that he has found himself working in since his schooldays than the blithe appropriation of a currently fashionable episode from the history of art. Byrne has described himself as a ‘handler’ of his works and while their cuts and scratches recall the necessary wounds of surgery, they also recall more trivial bodily incursions: the running of a comb’s teeth through tangled hair, or the pressing of a stud into a fleshy earlobe.”
“LOVE” a series of sculptures by Nicholas Byrne and Anthea Hamilton is an ever-growing collection of objects: a kimono (First LOVE Kimono, 2013), a set of animations (LOVE: Calypsos, 2009 and LOVE: LXVX, 2014) and an ongoing series of large inflatables “LOVE”, 2012-ongoing. The inflatables have previously been shown at the Schinkel Pavillon, Berlin; Burning Down the House: 10th Gwangju Biennale; Glasgow International, and Frieze Projects East.
Nicholas Byrne (b. 1979, UK) lives and works in London. Solo and two-person exhibitions include: Liver of Sulphur, VI, VII, Oslo; LOVE, Cold Shower, with Anthea Hamilton, Schinkel Pavilion, Berlin; Finish your sentence, and Roleplay at Vilma Gold, London; Faces, with Nora Schultz, dépendance, Brussels; Divider, Studio Voltaire, London.
Group exhibitions include: Death, Volcano Extravaganza, Fiorucci Art Trust, Stromboli; Burning Down the House, 10th Gwangju Biennale with Anthea Hamilton; Public Private Paintings, Kunstmuseum Ann Zee, Oostende; The Dark Monarch, Tate St Ives, St Ives.
Byrne’s works are in the collection of the Kistefos Museum, Norway; the Saatchi collection, Zabludowicz Collection, London and the collection of the Loewe Foundation, Madrid.
Curriculum Vitae
Download as PDFEducation
2004-2005
- Royal College of Art, London
1999-2003
- Slade School of Fine Art, U.C.L
1998-1999
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- Solo & Two-person Exhibitions
2022
- Liver of Sulphur (2016-2022), VI, VII, Oslo
2021
- Night Gate, Studio Voltaire, London, (part of Anthea Hamilton’s Garden Project)
2018
- Fumes, Federica Schiavo Gallery, Milan
2016
- LOVE, Cold Shower, Schinkel Pavilion, Berlin (with Anthea Hamilton)
2015
- Finish your sentence, Vilma Gold, London
2014
- LOVE, 6th Glasgow International, Glasgow (with Anthea Hamilton)
2013
- Spring, Anthony Meier Fine Arts, San Francisco
- Gib’s Mir, OUTPOST, Norwich, UK (with Gili Tal)
- Roleplay, Vilma Gold, London
2012
- LOVE, Frieze Projects East, London (with Anthea Hamilton)
2011
- Faces, Nora Schultz / Nicholas Byrne, dépendance, Brussels
2010
- Charles Atlas & Nicholas Byrne Vilma Gold, ArtNova, Artbasel Miami Beach A Catholic Episode, Vilma Gold, London
2009
- Calypsos, Studio Voltaire offsite at Zoo Art Fair, London (with Anthea Hamilton)
2008
- Divider, Studio Voltaire, London
- Kerlin Gallery, Dublin (with Benedikt Hipp)
2007
- Seven Metals, Vilma Gold, London (with Micheala Eichwald)
Group Exhibitions
2022
- X Years, VI, VII, Oslo
2021
- Yesn’t II (with Anthea Hamilton), Galerie Sultana, Paris Curated by Paul Maheke
- Drawing Biennial, The Drawing Room, London
2020
- Death, Volcano E×travaganza, Fiorucci Arts Trust, Stromboli
2019
- Anthea Hamilton Project Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge, U.K.
2016
- Anthea Hamilton Reimagines Kettle’s Yard, The Hepworth Wakefield
2015
- The Averty Show, Le Confort Moderne, Poitiers
- Terrapolis, Whitechapel Gallery & NEON, French School, Athens
2014
- Burning Down the House, 10th Gwangju Biennale (with Anthea Hamilton)
- Da Da Da, Peles Empire, London
- Like a Virgin, VI,VII, Oslo
2013
- All the Masters at the Swing Door, ReMap4 Athens
- Several Species of Small Furry Animals.. Veneklasen Werner, Berlin
2012
- Als Morandi mit der Kinematographie liebaugelte, Supportico Lopez, Berlin One Persons Materialism, Another Persons Romanticism, 5th Glasgow International Recent British Painting, Grimm, Amsterdam
- The Piano Lesson, Vilma Gold, London
2011
- Les Statues Meurent Aussi, Galleria Suzy Shammah, Milan
- Nobody Can Tell The Why Of It, 1857, Oslo
2010
- Public Private Paintings, Kunstmuseum Ann Zee, Oostende News Speak, British Art Now, Saatchi Gallery. London
- Owl Stretching Time, Nordenhake, Berlin, Germany
- The Long Dark, Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge
- Novel, dépendance, Brussels
2008
- The Dark Monarch, Tate St Ives
2007
- Tales Of Songs, Marc Foxx, Los Angeles
2006
- The air line, The Reliance, London
- Toutes Composition Florales, Counter, London
Bibliography
2016
- Mclean, Matthew, Anthea Hamilton Reimagines Kettle’s Yard, Hepworth Wakefield Canbaz, Melissa, Berlin, Schinkel Pavillion, Critics Picks, Artforum, 14th March
- Henrichsen, Jens, In der Schwebe, Der Tagespiegel, 23rd February
2015
- Douglas, Caroline, Finish Your Sentence, Contemporary Art Society, 6th November
- Banks, Grace, Art Among the Ruins, The Guardian, Wednesday 27th May Paterson, Steve, The Averty Show, Art press, Dec Issue 428, pg,18
2014
- Zeiner-Henriksen, Av Eirik, Like A Virgin, Kunst, Smuglesning, Oslo, 25th January
- Morgan, Jessica, Jang-hyeon, Yun, Burning Down the House, 10th Gwangju Biennale Catalogue
2013
- Agenda, Gib’s Mir, Wall Street International, 14th October
- Herbert, Martin, Several Species of.. Veneklasen Werner, Berlin, Frieze
2012
- Morton, Tom, Focus, Nicholas Byrne, Frieze, Issue 146, April, pg 120
- Harris, Gareth, Frieze finds a new frame, Financial Times, July 28/29, 2012, pg 13
- Local and Aesthetic, Guardian.co.uk Wednesday 18th July, 2012
2011
- Herbert, Martin, Nicholas Byrne, Frieze Art Fair Yearbook, Frieze Publishing Norby Werno, Johanne, 1857, Oslo, Critcs Picks Artforum
- Hareldseth, Geir, 1857, Oslo, Kaliedoscope blog! 19th July, 2011
- Roed, Kjetil, ‘Nobody Can Tell the Why Of It’ 1857, Oslo, Aftenposten
2010
- Flow, Heather, Brand New: Nicholas Byrne, Flash Art, October 2010, Vol XLIII, No 274, pg 110
- Chenais, Roman, An Attempt at a Topology, The ‘Local’ Artist, Solo Show Publication, RCA Curating, p.230
- Herbert, Martin, Back: Nicholas Byrne, Frieze, Issue 130, April 2010, pg.117 Coomer, Martin, Reviews: Nicholas Byrne, Time Out, February 11 -17, pg. 44 Charlesworth, JJ, Nicholas Byrne, A Catholic Episode, Artreview, Issue 40, pg.94
- Cotton, Michelle, Critics Picks, Nicholas Byrne, Critics’ Picks, Artforum, February, 2010
- Sherwin, Skye, E×hibitions: Nicholas Byrne, Gaurdian Guide, January, 2010, pg.32
- Rowlands, Alun, Williams, Matt, Novel, Issue II
2009
- Canoilas, Hugo, Telephone Paintings and Other Works, Transboavista, Lisbon Bracewell, Michael, Clark, Martin, Rowlands, Alun, The Dark Monarch, Tate Publishing
- Studio Voltaire, Calypsos, Zoo, Catalogue, Published by Zoo Art Enterprizes Vincent, Martin, The Long Dark, Art Monthly, Dec- Jan 09-10, pg.32
2008
- Andress, Sarah, Nicholas Byrne, Studio Voltaire, Flash Art, November / December
- Laera, Margherita, Italien Vogue, September,
- Dunne, Aiden, Nicholas Byrne, Benedikt Hipp, The Irish Times, 20th August Honore, Vincent, Past Forward, exhibition catalogue, Zabludowicz Collection
2007
- Shollis, Brian, Scene & Herd, Artforum.com
- Bonacina, Andrew, Frieze Art Fair Yearbook 2007/08 Frieze Publishing
2006
- Edwards, Charlotte, London MA Graduates, Artreview, Volume LVI
Residencies
2021
- Cove Park, Scotland (with Anthea Hamilton) Frida
2015
- Hansen Hus, Stavangar, Norway
2014
- Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin
2006
- Cité International des Arts, Paris, France
- Teaching
2022
- Goldsmiths, University, Fine Art, E×tension, UK, Artists talk and Tutorials UAL: Camberwell, Fine Art, Drawing / Painting, UK, Associate Lecturer University of the Creative Arts, Farnham, UK, Associate Lecturer
- Glasgow School of Art, BA, Fine Art, Painting, UK, Artists talk and Tutorials
2021
- Goldsmiths, University, UK, Artists talk and Tutorials
- University of the Creative Arts, Farnham, UK, Associate Lecturer Manchester School of Art, UK, Associate Lecturer
- Newcastle University of the Arts, UK, Visiting Artist
2020
- Manchester School of Art, UK, Associate Lecturer Wimbledon College of Arts, Associate Lecturer
2018
- UAL: Wimbledon School of Art, UK, Associate Lecturer Royal College of Art, UK, Associate Lecturer
- UCA Farnham, UK, Associate Lecturer
- Brera Academy, Milan, Italy, Artists talk
2017
- UAL: Wimbledon College of Arts, Associate Lecturer
- Kingston University, Artists talk and Tutorials
- UCA Farnham, UK, Associate Lecturer
- Royal Academy Schools, UK London, Artists talk and Tutorials Leeds Beckett University, UK, Artists talk and Tutorials
2016
- Royal Academy Schools London, Visiting Artist Manchester School of Art, Visiting Artists talk and Tutorials
2015
- Slade School of Fine Art, U.C.L. Artists talk and Tutorials University of Reading, Artists talk and Tutorials
- Ruskin School of Art, Oxford, Artists talk and Tutorials
2014
- Camberwell College of Art, UAL, Artists talk
2013
- Royal Academy Schools, Artists talk and Tutorials
2010
- Slade School of Fine Art, U.C.L. Visiting, Artists talk and Tutorials School of Fine Art, Kingston University, Artists talk and Tutorials
2005
- School of Fine Art, Kingston University, Artists talk and Tutorials
Booth view, Frieze Art Fair presentation, Regent's Park, London, UK, 2023
Exhibition view, Liver of Sulphur (2016-2022), VI, VII, Oslo, August 26 - October 7, 2022
Nicholas Byrne, Night Gate I, 2020-2022, Dye on Silk, 223 × 230 cm (87 ¾ × 90 ½ inches)
Exhibition view, Liver of Sulphur (2016-2022), VI, VII, Oslo, August 26 - October 7, 2022
Exhibition view, Liver of Sulphur (2016-2022), VI, VII, Oslo, August 26 - October 7, 2022
Exhibition view, Liver of Sulphur (2016-2022), VI, VII, Oslo, August 26 - October 7, 2022
Installation view, Nicholas Byrne, Frieze Art Fair, London, 2023
Installation view, Nicholas Byrne, Frieze Art Fair, London, 2023
Exhibition view, Nicholas Byrne and Athea Hamilton, LOVE IV: Cold Shower, Schinkel Pavillon, Berlin, 2016
Exhibition view, Nicholas Byrne and Athea Hamilton, LOVE IV: Cold Shower, Schinkel Pavillon, Berlin, 2016
Exhibition view, Nicholas Byrne, Finish your sentence, Vilma Gold, London, 2015
Nicholas Byrne, Untitled, 2022
Oil on copper
50 × 35 × 1 cm (19 ⅝ × 13 ¾ × ⅜ inches)
Oil on copper
50 × 35 × 1 cm (19 ⅝ × 13 ¾ × ⅜ inches)
Nicholas Byrne, Curls, 2010
Mild steel
87 × 87 × 29 cm (34 ¼ × 34 ¼ × 11 ⅜ inches)
Mild steel
87 × 87 × 29 cm (34 ¼ × 34 ¼ × 11 ⅜ inches)
Nicholas Byrne, Liver of Sulphur III, 2016-2022
Oil on copper
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Oil on copper
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Detail (Back of work), Nicholas Byrne, Liver of Sulphur III, 2016-2022
Nicholas Byrne, Liver of Sulphur II, 2016-2022
Oil on copper
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Oil on copper
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Detail (Back of work), Nicholas Byrne, Liver of Sulphur II, 2016-2022
Nicholas Byrne, Liver of Sulphur I, 2016-2022
Oil on copper
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Oil on copper
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Detail (Back of work), Nicholas Byrne, Liver of Sulphur I, 2016-2022
Nicholas Byrne, Untitled, 2021
Oil on linen
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Oil on linen
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Nicholas Byrne, Untitled, 2017-2022
Oil on nickel silver
30.5 × 17 × 1 cm (12 × 6 ¾ × ⅜ inches)
Oil on nickel silver
30.5 × 17 × 1 cm (12 × 6 ¾ × ⅜ inches)
Nicholas Byrne, Untitled, 2023
Oil on copper
50 × 35 × 1 cm (19 ⅝ × 13 ¾ × ⅜ inches)
Oil on copper
50 × 35 × 1 cm (19 ⅝ × 13 ¾ × ⅜ inches)
Nicholas Byrne, Untitled, 2023
Oil on copper
50 × 35 × 1 cm (19 ⅝ × 13 ¾ × ⅜ inches)
Oil on copper
50 × 35 × 1 cm (19 ⅝ × 13 ¾ × ⅜ inches)
Nicholas Byrne, Liver of Sulphur, 2016–2022
Oil on copper
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Oil on copper
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Nicholas Byrne, Liver of Sulphur, 2016–2022
Oil on copper
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Oil on copper
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Detail of Nicholas Byrne, Untitled, 2016-2022
Nicholas Byrne, Untitled, 2023
Oil on copper
145 × 240 × 4 cm (57 ⅛ × 94 ½ × 1 ⅝ inches)
Oil on copper
145 × 240 × 4 cm (57 ⅛ × 94 ½ × 1 ⅝ inches)
Nicholas Byrne, Untitled, 2023
Oil on copper
190 × 110 × 4 cm (74 ¾ × 43 ¼ × 1 ⅝ inches)
Oil on copper
190 × 110 × 4 cm (74 ¾ × 43 ¼ × 1 ⅝ inches)
Nicholas Byrne, Untitled, 2023
Oil on copper
175 × 120 × 4 cm (68 ⅞ × 47 ¼ × 1 ⅝ inches)
Oil on copper
175 × 120 × 4 cm (68 ⅞ × 47 ¼ × 1 ⅝ inches)
Installation view, Divider, 2008, Studio Voltaire, London
Booth view, Frieze Art Fair presentation, Regent's Park, London, UK, 2023
Exhibition view, Liver of Sulphur (2016-2022), VI, VII, Oslo, August 26 - October 7, 2022
Nicholas Byrne, Night Gate I, 2020-2022, Dye on Silk, 223 × 230 cm (87 ¾ × 90 ½ inches)
Exhibition view, Liver of Sulphur (2016-2022), VI, VII, Oslo, August 26 - October 7, 2022
Exhibition view, Liver of Sulphur (2016-2022), VI, VII, Oslo, August 26 - October 7, 2022
Exhibition view, Liver of Sulphur (2016-2022), VI, VII, Oslo, August 26 - October 7, 2022
Installation view, Nicholas Byrne, Frieze Art Fair, London, 2023
Installation view, Nicholas Byrne, Frieze Art Fair, London, 2023
Exhibition view, Nicholas Byrne and Athea Hamilton, LOVE IV: Cold Shower, Schinkel Pavillon, Berlin, 2016
Exhibition view, Nicholas Byrne and Athea Hamilton, LOVE IV: Cold Shower, Schinkel Pavillon, Berlin, 2016
Exhibition view, Nicholas Byrne, Finish your sentence, Vilma Gold, London, 2015
Nicholas Byrne, Untitled, 2022
Oil on copper
50 × 35 × 1 cm (19 ⅝ × 13 ¾ × ⅜ inches)
Oil on copper
50 × 35 × 1 cm (19 ⅝ × 13 ¾ × ⅜ inches)
Nicholas Byrne, Curls, 2010
Mild steel
87 × 87 × 29 cm (34 ¼ × 34 ¼ × 11 ⅜ inches)
Mild steel
87 × 87 × 29 cm (34 ¼ × 34 ¼ × 11 ⅜ inches)
Nicholas Byrne, Liver of Sulphur III, 2016-2022
Oil on copper
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Oil on copper
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Detail (Back of work), Nicholas Byrne, Liver of Sulphur III, 2016-2022
Nicholas Byrne, Liver of Sulphur II, 2016-2022
Oil on copper
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Oil on copper
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Detail (Back of work), Nicholas Byrne, Liver of Sulphur II, 2016-2022
Nicholas Byrne, Liver of Sulphur I, 2016-2022
Oil on copper
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Oil on copper
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Detail (Back of work), Nicholas Byrne, Liver of Sulphur I, 2016-2022
Nicholas Byrne, Untitled, 2021
Oil on linen
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Oil on linen
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Nicholas Byrne, Untitled, 2017-2022
Oil on nickel silver
30.5 × 17 × 1 cm (12 × 6 ¾ × ⅜ inches)
Oil on nickel silver
30.5 × 17 × 1 cm (12 × 6 ¾ × ⅜ inches)
Nicholas Byrne, Untitled, 2023
Oil on copper
50 × 35 × 1 cm (19 ⅝ × 13 ¾ × ⅜ inches)
Oil on copper
50 × 35 × 1 cm (19 ⅝ × 13 ¾ × ⅜ inches)
Nicholas Byrne, Untitled, 2023
Oil on copper
50 × 35 × 1 cm (19 ⅝ × 13 ¾ × ⅜ inches)
Oil on copper
50 × 35 × 1 cm (19 ⅝ × 13 ¾ × ⅜ inches)
Nicholas Byrne, Liver of Sulphur, 2016–2022
Oil on copper
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Oil on copper
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Nicholas Byrne, Liver of Sulphur, 2016–2022
Oil on copper
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Oil on copper
110 × 60 × 1 cm (43 ¼ × 23 ⅝ × ⅜ inches)
Detail of Nicholas Byrne, Untitled, 2016-2022
Nicholas Byrne, Untitled, 2023
Oil on copper
145 × 240 × 4 cm (57 ⅛ × 94 ½ × 1 ⅝ inches)
Oil on copper
145 × 240 × 4 cm (57 ⅛ × 94 ½ × 1 ⅝ inches)
Nicholas Byrne, Untitled, 2023
Oil on copper
190 × 110 × 4 cm (74 ¾ × 43 ¼ × 1 ⅝ inches)
Oil on copper
190 × 110 × 4 cm (74 ¾ × 43 ¼ × 1 ⅝ inches)
Nicholas Byrne, Untitled, 2023
Oil on copper
175 × 120 × 4 cm (68 ⅞ × 47 ¼ × 1 ⅝ inches)
Oil on copper
175 × 120 × 4 cm (68 ⅞ × 47 ¼ × 1 ⅝ inches)
Installation view, Divider, 2008, Studio Voltaire, London