A mostly self taught artist, Belfast born Gerard Dillon began painting full time in the late 1930s, having left school at the age of fourteen to pursue a career as a painter and decorator and studying at the Belfast Technical School before moving to London in 1934. In the following decade Dillon spent bouts in both London and Dublin, having exhibitions there and in Northern Ireland. His first solo exhibition was at the Country Shop in Dublin in 1942 and was opened by Mainie Jellett. He exhibited
at the IELA first exhibition in 1943, joining the Committee in 1950, a position he held until his death.
However the place that significantly impacted the subject matter of his painting was the West of Ireland, where he was intrigued by the locals and the landscape. Dillon received international recognition in 1958 when he had the double honour of representing Ireland at the Guggenheim International Show in New York and Great Britain at the Pittsburgh International Exhibition. During his career he continually exhibited at the Victor Waddington Gallery, the Dawson Gallery and with at the RHA.
In 1972 a major retrospective of his work was mounted by the Ulster Museum and travelled to the Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin. Adams hosted a major retrospective exhibition of his work 'Gerard Dillon: Art and Friendships' in Dublin and Clandeboye, Co. Down in 2013.
Please click here to visit our extensive summer loan show catalogue 'Gerard Dillon: Art and Friendships'.
Gerard Dillon's work features extensively in 'George Campbell and the Belfast Boys' exhibition (2015). Please click here to view the catalogue.
His work also featured in:
'Ulster Artists Exhibition' (2010). Please click here to view the catalogue.
'A Celebration of Irish Art and Modernism' exhibition (2011). Please click here to view the catalogue.
'Ireland: Her People and Her Landscape' exhibition (2012). Please click here to view the catalogue.
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