CONOR HARRINGTON

Conor Harrington was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1980. After obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Limerick School of Art and Design in 2002, he moved to London, where he has lived and worked ever since.
Harrington began doing graffiti during his teenage years in Cork and has since painted large-scale murals worldwide, including in London, Paris, New York, Miami, São Paulo, and Mexico City. Working on the streets for over 25 years has influenced his studio practice in terms of both content and technique, with narratives and approaches nourished by the urban environment.
Harrington's large-format oil paintings are inspired by classical art but find their roots in graffiti. Through themes such as masculinity and colonialism, he draws parallels between today's politics and the language of painting. Heroes are raised, torn down, and obliterated, as the cycle of history and power constantly repeats itself. By interacting with a series of interchangeable symbols of power—flags, banners, and medals—Harrington's protagonists hold a mirror up to the male ego throughout the ages.
Harrington's work is undeniably dreamlike, striking a stunning balance between ethereal concepts and fierce realism. He has exhibited his art internationally, notably in the prominent exhibitions Eat and Delete at Lazarides Gallery in New York in 2014, and Watch Your Palace Fall at the HENI/Pace Gallery in London in 2016. His pieces are featured in Damien Hirst's Murderme collection, as well as in the private collections of celebrities such as Alicia Keys and Sir Elton John.

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