Kevin Sharkey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kevin Sharkey
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Sharkey in April 2014
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| Born | 3 June 1961 Dublin, Ireland
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Kevin Sharkey (born 3 June 1961) is an Irish artist and a former television presenter and actor. He is also known for his political activism. He tried to run in the 2018 Irish presidential election but later decided not to.
Contents
Early life and Discovering Art
Kevin Sharkey was born in Dublin, Ireland, on June 3, 1961. He was adopted and grew up with the Sharkey family in Killybegs, County Donegal. As a child, he was very good at Irish dancing, winning many medals before he was 12 years old. He also competed in disco dancing.
When he was 12, Kevin went into foster care. He lived at St Joseph's Industrial School in Galway. During his time there, he faced difficult experiences. However, it was at this school that he found his love for painting. Art became a way for him to escape and express himself. He started his art career when he was 30, experimenting with bright colors and oil paints.
Kevin Sharkey's Career Journey
Kevin Sharkey has had many different jobs throughout his life. He has worked as a chef, a fisherman, and even a singer-songwriter.
Television and Music Work
Kevin was Ireland's first bi-racial television presenter. He hosted a show called Megamix. He also presented a British music show called The Roxy starting in 1987. For a short time, he worked as a photographer and a model.
He also worked with music groups like The Boomtown Rats and Boney M.. He helped write songs for them, including Boney M.'s 1989 song "Everybody Wants to Dance Like Josephine Baker".
Kevin had a small acting role in the TV show Father Ted. He played a priest named Father Shaft. He was also a contestant on the Irish TV series Celebrity Farm.
Many famous people have bought Kevin's paintings. These include Irish singer Bob Geldof and the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins.
Becoming a Full-Time Artist
Since 1992, Kevin Sharkey has been a full-time artist. His art is known for being abstract and modern. He uses bright, textured colors in his paintings. His style is also very diverse, meaning his artworks often look different from each other.
He has shown his art in many cities around the world. These include Dublin, London, Ibiza, Amsterdam, and New York City. In 2007, one of his exhibitions, called What Colour Are Kisses?, sold out completely in just two days.
One of his paintings, Roisin, raised €26,100 in 2008 for a charity event called People in Need Telethon. His art has also appeared in music videos, like the 2008 hit song "American Boy" by Estelle and Kanye West.
Kevin's exhibition Public Enemy Number One toured the world. It featured thought-provoking images of famous people.
In 2013, Kevin had a disagreement with a film company and the Irish TV network RTÉ. This was about his artwork being used in the TV series Love/Hate without his permission. The issue was later resolved.
Political Activities
Kevin Sharkey has also been involved in politics. In 2013, he joined the political party Sinn Féin. He later left the party in 2016.
In 2016, he shared his opinions on government spending and immigration in Ireland. In 2017, he spoke about his concerns regarding the care system for children, drawing on his own experiences. He also talked about his views on Irish immigration policy.
In March 2018, Kevin Sharkey announced he would run for the 2018 Irish Presidential Election. He ran on a platform focused on "Ireland First." However, he later decided to withdraw from the race.
Images for kids
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Sharkey in April 2014
