Michael Canning
Michael Canning was born in Limerick in 1971. After studying at the Limerick School of Art and Design he studied in Greece at the School of Fine Arts in Athens 1992 to 1993, and in 1999 he received his Masters Degree in Fine Art from the National College of Art & Design in Dublin. Cannings paintings of hedgerow plants confront certain traditions of northern European painting. Neither landscape, nor still life, they convey an atmospheric quality laden with spiritual undertones. www.whytes.ie Heavy mists shroud the rolling hills of the Irish landscape which part only for the wild plants. The plants are rendered directly from observation. Each paintings is built up in layers, using oil paint and wax. They sometimes include the very substance which the painting depicts; ground earth and ash. Canning finds the plants on daily walks near his home in County Limerick. The names of the plants are not important to him, many are known simply by their local names, some of which are known to be poisons or remedies. The idea that these plants may have healing or adverse properties interests the artist, but it is the not knowing which offers which, that lends the paintings their air of mystery and suspense. He has exhibited extensively throughout Ireland and The UK, including group events with Jonathan Swift Gallery, Highlanes Gallery Drogheda, Eigse International Arts Festival in Carlow, Boyle Arts Festival, Mermaid Arts Centre, Crawford Municipal Gallery, Limerick City Gallery, Galway Arts Centre and several RHA Annual exhibitions. His work is included in many private and public collections including: AIB, McCann Erickson, AXA, Butler Gallery, University of Limerick and OPW Ireland. He won the Hennessy Craig Scholarship and Whyte's Prize in 2003 and the Fergus O'Ryan Memorial Award in 2006, all at the RHA, Dublin. www.whytes.ie
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'ASSEMBLY, 2008'
- Price Realised: 7,600
- Sale: 24 November 2014
- oil and wax on canvas
- 48 x 36in. (121.92 x 91.44cm)
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'A HISTORY OF HISTORY, 2006 (DIPTYCH)'
- Price Realised: 7,500
- Sale: 22 March 2021
- oil and wax on canvas laid on panel; (unframed)
- 48 x 72in. (121.92 x 182.88cm)
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'EXPOSITION, 2007'
- Price Realised: 3,800
- Sale: 28 September 2020
- oil and wax on canvas laid on board; (unframed)
- 27½ x 19½in. (69.85 x 49.53cm)
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'MINUTES, 2006'
- Price Realised: 3,200
- Sale: 02 December 2019
- oil and wax on canvas laid on board
- 27½ x 20in. (69.85 x 50.80cm)
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'PAINTING 'PSALMS' V, 2004'
- Price Realised: 3,000
- Sale: 28 November 2016
- oil and wax on canvas over board
- 27½ x 19½in. (69.85 x 49.53cm)
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'ANNO, 2007'
- Price Realised: 2,700
- Sale: 30 May 2011
- oil and wax on canvas on board
- 70 by 51cm., 27.5 by 20in.
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'SONG, 2005'
- Price Realised: 2,400
- Sale: 26 November 2018
- oil and wax on canvas mounted on board
- 27½ x 19½in. (69.85 x 49.53cm)
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'CULTIVAR (DARK) II, 2002'
- Price Realised: 1,500
- Sale: 25 November 2013
- oil and wax on canvas laid on panel
- 28 by 19.5in., 70 by 48.75cm.