World famous artist Maser is to stage his first exhibition in a leading contemporary gallery in Ireland.
The star, who created the iconic ‘Repeal’ Heart mural at the Project Arts Centre, Temple Bar, is bringing ‘Bookmarks In Time’ to Gormleys Fine Art, South Frederick Street, Dublin for a three-week run from this Thursday (Sep9).
Maser, 40, who lives in South Dublin, has built a worldwide following for his unique graphic style and now hopes to forge a path for other contemporary artists by making the leap to a traditional gallery.
“This step into a contemporary gallery is a first for Irish street artists as it has been our peers internationally that have previously made the jump,” he said.
“The move to Gormleys will allow me to exhibit at a much larger scale, while reaching a wider audience.”
Over the past two decades, he has collaborated with President Michael D Higgins, U2, the National Gallery, the National Library, the National Print Museum and created large murals in Australia, the US, UK, Uganda, Nepal and Hawaii.
Maser entered the art world as a graffiti artist in his mid-teens, his style conveying an uplifting and socially conscious message.
“The inspiration for the (Gormleys) collection came from me resorting to nature as a saviour, hiking and travelling around Ireland.
“Elements within the paintings are visual tokens I collected while outdoors, either through memory or visual record.
Photo: Johnny Mallin.
“The exhibition paintings will be around five-foot square – with a big canvas I can have a loose arm and you can see my gestural movement.
“I see this as an example of adapting my traits from street art and staying true to my heritage.”
As an example of scale, he is currently creating a 10-foot by 20-foot piece for the Beijing international Art Biennale.
“Coming from an outdoor space, my arm just loves to paint bigger,” said Maser.
The Gormleys exhibition will consist of ten large-scale paintings (priced between €3,000 and €10,000) and five smaller works, which, combined, he terms his most considered collection.
Many of the pieces will then be developed into sculptural works as Maser begins to branch from 2D to 3D.
Photo: Johnny Mallin.
“It will still be in the realms of what I do, just in a post-graffiti sense.
“Street artists are bridging gaps everywhere, and there are versions of me all over the world.
“I want to use the opportunity to demonstrate that public and street artists are fine artists.
“When you look at my paintings, gestures look effortless, but they are very considered.”
The key narrative of the collection is its content, but it also focusses on the context of the time in which it is painted.
Bookmarks In Time runs in Gormleys Fine Art, South Frederick Street, Dublin, from September 9 for three weeks. Further details at: gormleys.ie
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