Conor
Harrington

Conor Harrington’s success is attested by the proliferation of his work, which has appeared in gallery exhibitions in London and New York, as well as in the streets of Bethlehem Wall, Sao Paulo, Paris, Copenhagen, and New York. In 2017 Harrington even painted a huge, high profile mural titled The Blind Patriot for Art Basel in Miami.

In 2012 Harrington’s first major solo show The Story of Us and Them at London’s Heni Gallery brought together themes found throughout Harrington’s existing body of work. The works included in the show held many of the signature motifs and techniques that have made Harrington’s art instantly recognisable. Realistic, high renaissance-esque depictions of the human body, paired with blurring, dripping and layered effects more closely associated with graffiti art. Grappling figures clothed in red and blue adorn large scale canvases and take part in a reenacted battle, while their elaborate historical military dress evokes questions over masquerading and masculinity.

Similarly, for his later Fight Club series, Harrington staged a photoshoot with characters dressed in elaborate historical costume. The resulting artworks reference pop culture and graffiti art, tackling contemporary themes of image and masculinity, while using costume and painting styles evocative of a bygone age, as seen for instance in Fight Club (The Mess we Make).

Earlier this year Harrington made a return to street art in his large-scale mural on Grand Parade in his hometown of Cork, Ireland. Despite the change in format, Harrington continues to address themes seen before using his recognisable painting style.

Today, Harrington’s work is widely collected, famously by Steve Lazaredes, one time mentor and agent of street art phenomenon Banksy.