John Burke (artist) facts for kids

John Burke (born May 11, 1946 – died December 11, 2006) was a talented Irish sculptor. He was known for creating amazing art pieces from different materials.

Becoming a Sculptor

John Burke learned his art skills at two famous schools. First, he studied at the Crawford School of Art and Design in Cork, Ireland. Later, he went to the Royal Academy in London, England.

He spent most of his career living and working in the Cork area. For a while, he also taught art at the Crawford School. Some of his students became famous artists themselves, like Eilis O'Connell and Vivienne Roche.

A Special Group for Artists

In 1981, John Burke helped start a special group called Aosdána. This group supports artists in Ireland. Being a member of Aosdána means an artist is recognized for their important work. It also helps them focus on creating art.

Famous Sculptures

John Burke created many interesting sculptures during his life. Here are two well-known pieces:

• Etsumi (made in 1973) can be found in the Ulster Museum in Belfast.
• Red Cardinal (made in 1978) is located at the Bank of Ireland Headquarters in Dublin.

Red Cardinal (1978) is one of John Burke's well-known sculptures.