Micheal Farrell facts for kids

Micheal Farrell (pronounced MEE-hawl) was an important Irish painter and printmaker. He was also a member of Aosdána, which is a special group for the best artists in Ireland.

Early Life and School Days

Micheal Farrell was born in 1940 in Cookstown House, located in County Meath, Ireland. His father, Jimmy Farrell, was a well-known rugby union player.

Micheal went to school at the Christian Brothers school in Kells. He had dyslexia, which made learning difficult for him there. Later, he moved to Ampleforth College in Yorkshire, England, for his schooling.

His Artistic Journey

Micheal Farrell studied art at Saint Martin's School of Art in London from 1957 to 1961. This is where he learned many of the skills he would use in his career.

In 1967, he was chosen to represent Ireland at a big art event called the Biennale de Paris. This was a great honor for him as a young artist.

What Inspired His Art?

Farrell often used acrylic paint in his artworks. He found inspiration in very old, beautiful books called medieval illuminated manuscripts. These books had amazing drawings and decorations.

In 1969, he won a major award at the Irish Exhibition of Living Art. During his acceptance speech, he spoke about important issues happening in Northern Ireland at the time.

In 1971, Micheal moved to France with his family. For a while, they lived at La Ruche, a famous place where many artists have lived and worked.

Looking at Himself and Ireland

The Crawford Art Gallery has said that Micheal Farrell's self-portraits (pictures he painted of himself) showed his deep thoughts about Ireland. They suggest he was thinking about his own identity and how it connected to his country.

In 1987, Micheal Farrell was invited to join Aosdána. This shows how respected he was among other Irish artists.

Where to See His Work

A special exhibition of his art, called a retrospective, was held at the Crawford Gallery in 2013–2014. His paintings and prints are kept in many important art museums around the world. You can find his work at places like the Irish Museum of Modern Art, the Hugh Lane Gallery, the Ulster Museum, the Manchester Art Gallery, the Pompidou Centre, the National Gallery of Ireland, and the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris.

Family Life

Micheal Farrell had four children. He married Patricia "Pat" Lamplew, and they had three sons together. Later, in 1992, he and Patricia divorced. He then married Meg Bosanquet Early.

Micheal Farrell passed away in Cardet, France, in the year 2000.