Coleraine artist turns heads during trip to United States

John Gillan from Stone Row in the town was the youngest ever Irish artist to be invited to feature his work at the Irish Chamber Ball in the Waldorf Astoria recently.

Only one of two artists asked to exhibit his work by the Chamber, which develops economic and educational relationships between the United States and Ireland, John's piece "Inner Peace" was sold in a silent auction on the night to a businessman from the Big Apple.

And while visiting New York, John was also invited to a series of meeting with some of the most influential art galleries in the world.

"One of the galleries is very interested in my work," John told the Times.

"The manager wants to show my work as part of a group exhibition of new artists so talks are on-going with them. When I was in the gallery I just took a walk around and looked at the works on show.

"Some of them were priced at $200,000 so someone isn't suffering from the recession," joked John.

A graduate of the University of Ulster's York Street campus, John has been exhibiting his abstract works since he was 16 years old.

John was selected as the first ever male visual arts student to represent Ireland at the acclaimed Governor's school for the Arts in Kentucky, USA, from which he graduated in 2004.

"I started with the Island Irish Art gallery when I was 16 and was the youngest artist to exhibit. Now three galleries show my work in Ireland - in Belfast, Holywood and Coleraine.

"I have been lucky enough with galleries wanting to display my work and have been to the US a few times with my work.

"I have also worked with the BBC on the Big Read project for disadvantaged children where I produced images with the artist Ross Wilson.

"I have also shown my work in different exhibitions in Belfast and was involved in a celebrity art auction for charity in 2006 when the likes of Jude Law, Prince Charles and Bono donated works to raise money."

As the walks continue with the New York galleries, John is busy stockpiling work so that he is ready when the call comes.

"My work is abstract and is more suited to the New York scene rather than the art scene here which is more traditional.

"Most of my work is based around how colours work together, colour theory. Most people think they don't understand that but it's like when you dress yourself in the morning you don't put on an orange top with pink trousers because they just don't go together.

"Well, this is just like looking at those theories and having them explained to you.

"I look at the link to the work of the Renaissance artists from the 1600s."

Anyone interested in learning more about John's works can contact him at [email protected]