Norah McGuinness facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Norah McGuinness
Born	Norah Allison McGuinness (1901-11-07)7 November 1901 County Londonderry, Ireland
Died	22 November 1980(1980-11-22) (aged 79) Dublin, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Alma mater	Metropolitan School of Art, Chelsea Polytechnic
Known for	Painting, Illustration
Movement	Modern movement

Norah Allison McGuinness (born November 7, 1901 – died November 22, 1980) was a talented Irish painter and illustrator. She was known for her bright, colorful paintings and her work in designing for books and the stage. Norah McGuinness became a very important artist in the modern art movement in Ireland.

Norah's Early Life and Training

Norah McGuinness was born in County Londonderry, Ireland. She started her art training at Derry Technical School. From 1921, she studied at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art. Here, she learned from famous artists like Patrick Tuohy and Harry Clarke.

Becoming an Illustrator and Designer

Through Harry Clarke, Norah got her first big job. She illustrated a book called A Sentimental Journey in 1926. She also studied at the Chelsea Polytechnic in London. In the 1920s, she worked in Dublin as a book illustrator. She also designed sets for plays at the Abbey and Peacock theatres.

Norah lived in Wicklow from 1925. She was part of Dublin's exciting world of writers and theatre. She illustrated another book, Stories of Red Hanrahan, for the famous poet W. B. Yeats.

Studying Art in Paris

In 1929, Norah went to Paris to study art. She followed the advice of her friend, artist Mainie Jellett. In Paris, she learned from André Lhote and was influenced by the "Ecole de Paris." This was a group of artists who worked in Paris and developed new styles.

Norah married an editor named Geoffrey Phibbs. They later divorced in 1930.

Life in London and New York

After Paris, Norah moved to London. She joined art groups like the 'Twenties Group' and the London Group. These groups were known for showing new and modern art.

From 1937 to 1939, Norah lived in New York. She showed her paintings in exhibitions there. She also created illustrations for a fashion magazine called Harper’s Bazaar. She even designed window displays for Altman’s department store on Fifth Avenue.

In 1939, Norah returned to Ireland. She settled in Dublin and focused mainly on her painting. She passed away in County Dublin.

Norah's Artistic Work

Norah McGuinness painted vivid and colorful landscapes. Her art always showed real things, but it had a modern twist. You can see the influence of Cubism in her work. Cubism is an art style that uses geometric shapes. She was a key part of the modern art movement in Ireland.

Leading the Irish Exhibition of Living Art

Norah helped start the Irish Exhibition of Living Art in 1943. This exhibition was very important for showing new Irish art. After Mainie Jellett passed away, Norah became its president in 1944.

In 1950, Norah McGuinness and Nano Reid represented Ireland at the Venice Biennale. This is a huge international art exhibition held in Venice, Italy. It was the first time Ireland had ever taken part in this event. Later, many more women artists were chosen to represent Ireland there.

Norah was honored by the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1957. She designed windows for the Brown Thomas department store for over thirty years.

Exhibitions and Awards

In 1968, there was a special exhibition of her work. It was held at the Douglas Hyde Gallery at Trinity College Dublin. This type of exhibition, called a "retrospective," looks back at an artist's entire career. In 1973, Trinity College Dublin gave her an honorary doctorate. This is a special degree given to people who have achieved great things. Her paintings were also shown in a 2013 exhibition at IMMA called ‘Analysing Cubism’.

Where to See Norah's Art

You can find Norah McGuinness's artwork in many important collections:

• Crawford Art Gallery, Cork
• The Irish Museum of Modern Art
• The National Gallery of Ireland
  • Portrait of Michael Scott
  • Portrait of Denis Johnston
  • The Startled Bird
• Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane
• The Victoria and Albert Museum London
• The Arts Council of Ireland
• The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, including
  • Inlet (1976)
• Meath County Council, including
  • The Ochre Mines, Avoca (1955?)
• The National Library of Ireland