Gerard Dillon facts for kids

Gerard Dillon (1916 – 14 June 1971) was a famous Irish painter and artist. He was known for his unique style and paintings of Irish life.

Life of Gerard Dillon

Early Life and Art Journey

Gerard Dillon was born in Belfast. He left school when he was 14 years old. For seven years, he worked as a painter and decorator. He spent most of this time working in London. From a young age, he was very interested in art, movies, and theatre. Around 1936, he decided to become a full-time artist.

Dillon's paintings often showed the beautiful landscapes of Connemara. He also painted the people who lived and worked there. His art captured the feeling of these places with special colours. When he was 18, Dillon moved to London. He worked as a decorator there at first. When World War II started, he moved back to Belfast. For the next five years, he grew as a painter in Dublin and Belfast. His artworks from this time were not just pictures. They showed his feelings and how he connected with the world.

Growing as an Artist

In 1942, Gerard Dillon had his first art show. His friend, the artist Mainie Jellett, opened it in Dublin. One painting, "Father, Forgive Them Their Sins," showed his worries about the war. Even though he was becoming well-known, he had to go back to London in 1944. He worked on demolition teams to earn money. In the late 1940s and 1950s, Dillon loved the town of Roundstone in Connemara.

In 1951, he met Noreen Rice, who was also an artist. She learned a lot from Dillon and his friend George Campbell. Her art style was similar to theirs, often dream-like and simple.

In 1958, Dillon received two big honours. He represented Ireland at the Guggenheim International art show. He also represented Great Britain at the Pittsburg International Exhibition. He and his sister, Mollie, owned a house on Abbey Road in 1958. They rented parts of it to other artists, including Arthur Armstrong and Noreen Rice. Dillon and Noreen often visited junk yards. They would find interesting items like leather and string to use in their art.

He traveled a lot around Europe. He also taught art for short periods in London art schools.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1967, Dillon had a stroke and spent six weeks in the hospital. After this, his art changed. He started painting dreams and ideas about life and death. In 1968, he was back in Dublin. He helped design the sets and costumes for a play called "Juno and the Paycock." He kept painting and also made tapestries. He used his Singer sewing machine to create these fabric artworks.

In 1969, Dillon removed his art from a show in Belfast. This was during a difficult time called the Troubles. He wanted to show his protest against the problems happening. However, he still sent art to Ulster later that year. He donated a painting to an exhibition helping victims of the Belfast riots. His work was shown alongside other famous artists like T P Flanagan and William Scott. A writer named Michael Longley said that Belfast needed creative people like Gerard Dillon. In his last years, Dillon was asked to help with a children's art workshop. This was held at the National Gallery of Ireland.

Gerard Dillon passed away on June 14, 1971, at age 55. He died from a second stroke. As he wished, his grave in Belfast's Milltown Cemetery is unmarked. The Danlann Gerard Dillon/The Gerard Dillon Gallery in Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich is named in his honour.

Sources

• Gerard Dillon, Art and Friendships Loan Exhibition Catalogue, Adams.ie; accessed 4 November 2016
• Profile of Gerard Dillon, adams.ie; accessed 4 November 2016
• Theo Snoddy, Dictionary of Irish Artists, 20th Century (2nd edition), Merlin, Dublin, 2002
• Profile, crawfordartgallery.com; accessed 4 November 2016
• Profile, jorgensenfineart.com; accessed 4 November 2016