b. 1956 in Belfast. Lives and works in Mayo.
EDUCATION
1974–1978 B.A. Hons. Art and Design, University of Ulster.
1980– 1981 University of Ulster.
EXHIBITIONS
Solo
2024 The Nine Primates of Ulster, Kevin Kavanagh, Dublin
2020 A Covid Border Triangle, Kevin Kavanagh, Dublin
2017 Hidden Dips, Blind Summits- The Road to Brexitaria, Kevin Kavanagh, Dublin
2014 Fliskmahaigo, Kevin Kavanagh, Dublin
2012 Solstice Art Centre, Navan
2012 Fish, Flesh & Fowl, Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris
2011 Fish, Flesh & Fowl, Golden Thread Gallery, Belfast
2010 Hibernium: A Trip Across the Head of Ireland, Kevin Kavanagh, Dublin
2007 eyed, Kevin Kavanagh, Dublin
2005 Spatial Notions, Kevin Kavanagh, Dublin
2004 The Inability to Eat Flags, Millennium Court Arts Centre, Portadown,
Co. Armagh
2003 Westport Arts Festival, The Custom House gallery, Westport
Dog, Kevin Kavanagh, Dublin
2002 Dank, Galway Arts Centre, Galway
2001 Goatscape, Kevin Kavanagh, Dublin
2000 Consuming Units, Kevin Kavanagh, Dublin.
Cacouphony of Coughs, Orchard Gallery, Derry.
1999 Logan Gallery, Galway.
Monaghan Museum, Monaghan.
1997 Crank House Gallery, Banagher, Co. Offaly.
Model Arts Centre, Sligo.
1996 Couthouse Gallery, Cavan.
Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.
1995 Vangard Gallery, Macroom, Co. Cork.
1993 Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.
Arts Centre, Galway.
Sligo Art Gallery, Sligo.
Gallerie Coac, Berlin, Germany.
Carroll Gallery, Longford.
Earagail Arts Festival, Letterkenny, Donegal.
Linehall Arts Centre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
Project Arts Centre, Dublin.
1989 Paula Allen Gallery, New York City, U.S.A.
Arts Council Gallery, Belfast.
1987 Paula Allen Gallery, New York City, U.S.A.
1986 Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.
1985 Peacock Gallery, Craig Yvon, Co. Armagh.
1984 Project Arts Centre, Dublin.
1983 Octagon Gallery, Belfast.
Art Research and Exchange, Belfast.
Group (Selected)
2024 Magic and Loss, Kevin Kavanagh, Dublin
Sacred Trust: Donations and Their Legacy, The Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin
2023 Boyle Arts Festival, Connections, Kings House, Roscommon
2022 The Narrow Gate of the Here and Now, IMMA, Dublin
2021 Tangled, DLR Lexicon, Dublin
2020 Worlds Without End, The Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin
2019 Silver: 25 Year Anniversary Show, Kevin Kavanagh, Dubin
2014 Instant Crush, Kevin Kavanagh, Dublin
2012 Preview 2012, Kevin Kavanagh, Dublin
2011 The Horse Show, Kinsale Arts Week, curated by Gemma Tipton and Patrick T.Murphy
Room Outside, Kevin Kavanagh, Dublin
2009 In the Mind’s Eye, State Art Collection Touring Exhibition
10th Anniversary Exhibition, Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise
An Eye for an Eye: Representations of Conflict in 20th Century Ireland, Glucksman, Cork.
2007 The Double Image, Representing Narratives in Contemporary Northern Irish Painting and Photography, Golden Thread Gallery, Belfast
2006 The Disembodied Eye: Collective Histories of Northern Irish Art, Golden Thread Gallery, Belfast
2005 Exhibition of Contemporary Art from Ireland,
European Central Bank, Frankfurt, Germany
Seeing Orange, MCAC, Portadown, Co. Armagh
The Happiest Country in the World, An t-Oireachtais Exhibition
Curated by Cliodhna Shaffrey and Ruairi O’Cuiv.
The West as Metaphor, Royal Hibernian Gallagher Gallery, Dublin
Curated by Dr. Yvonne Scott and Patrick T. Murphy
The 2nd Burren Annual Exhibition, Burren College of Art, Co. Clare
2004 Art for Amnesty, In the Time of Shaking, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin
The Cracked Looking Glass, Graphic Print Gallery, Dublin
2003 Four Artists September Show, Purdy Hicks gallery, London, UK
Dead Bodies, Centre Culturel Irlandais, College de L’Irlandais, Paris
flock, gaggle and herd, Model Niland Gallery, Sligo
2002-2003 Something Else, Irish Contemporary Art, Turku Art Museum, Finland, and touring to Helsinki, Oulu and Joensuu.
2001 Looking at Pictures, Laois Arts Festival, Portlaoise, Co. Laois
Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright, Fenton Gallery, Cork
2000 Works on Paper, Le Moyne Art Foundation Gallery Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.A.
1999 Fauna, Zacheta Gallery of Contemporary Art. Galeria Sztuki, Wspolezesnej Zacheta, Warsaw, Poland.
Landscape, Kevin Kavanagh, Dublin.
1998-2000 When Time Began to Rant and Rage, Figurative Painting from 20th Century Ireland, Walker Gallery, Liverpool; Grey Gallery, N.Y.U., N.Y.C.; Berkely Art Museum, California, U.S.A.; Barbican, London.
1998 Transgression: Visual Art & Poetry, Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.
Perspective 98, Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast.
Banquet Exhibition, R.H.A. Gallagher Gallery, Dublin.
Boathouse Gallery, Castletownshend, Co. Cork with Martin Gale
1997 Cruelty, Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.
Objects, Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.
1996-1998 Art From Conflict, Fassbinder Gallery, Chicago & touring U.S.A.
1996 Irish Days 4, Baltic Art Gallery, Utska, Poland
1995-1996 Poetic Land, Political Territory, N.C.C.A. touring U.K.
1995 Siolru, R.H.A. Gallagher Gallery, Dublin.
1992-1996 C.O.E, Claremorris, Co. Mayo.
1990 Images From Ireland, Albert Borchette Centre, Brussels, Belgium.
Conflict, Resolution Through the Arts, Wardnassse Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
1993 Westshore Gallery, Oughterard, Galway with Sinead Aldridge.
1989-1993 On the Balcony of the Nation”, touring U.S.A.
1988 International Studio Program Exhibition, P.S.1. Museum New York, U.S.A.
G.P.A. Exhibition of Ulster Art in the 80’s, Gallagher Gallery, R.H.A. Dublin.
Animals, Kerlin Gallery, Dublin with John Kindness.
1987 Landscape in Current Northern Irish Art, Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.
Directions Out, Douglas Hyde Gallery, Dublin.
Belfast / Cardiff Exchange Chapter Arts Centre Cardiff, Arts Council Gallery, Belfast.
State of the Nation, Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry, U.K.
1986 G.P.A. Awards, RHK, Dublin.
1985-1987 Divisions, Crossroads, Turns of Mind, Some New Irish Art, touring USA, Canada, Finland, Ireland.
1985-1986 Independent Artists, Guinness Hop Store, Dublin.
1985 Two Living Generations of Northern Irish Art, Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.
1984 NOVA, Arts Council Gallery, Belfast.
1983-1987 COE, Claremorris, Co. Mayo.
AWARDS
1997 Elected member of Aosdana.
1996 Marten Toonder Award.
1995 Residency, Cill Reilig, Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry.
1994 Award, Cultural Relations Committee / An Roinn Gnothai Eachtracha.
1993 Bursary, Arts Council of N. Ireland.
1990 Bursary, Arts Council of N. Ireland.
Residency, St Louis Convent, Monaghan. An Chomairle Ealaoin / The Arts Council.
1989 Travel Award, An Chomairle Ealaion / The Arts Council.
Award, Cultural Relations Committee / An Roinn Gnothai Eachtracha.
1987 C.O.E Prizewinner.
Bursary An Comhairle Ealaion / The Arts Council.
Bursary, Arts Council of N. Ireland.
International Studio fellowship, Ireland / America, Arts exchange P.S.1 Museum, New York, U.S.A.
1985 C.O.E Premier Award.
1983 C.O.E Prizewinner.
Arts Council of N. Ireland, Bursary.
COLLECTIONS
European Central Bank
AXA Insurance
The Office of Public Works
National University of Ireland, Galway
University of Ulster
Arts Council of Northen Ireland
Jobst Graevel / Model Niland Gallery
Arts Council of Ireland