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Brian Connolly

Associate Lecturer in Sculpture

Background

Brian Connolly was born in Ballymoney Co. Antrim in 1961 and was awarded an M.A. in Fine Art at the University of Ulster in 1985. He is currently an Associate Lecturer in Fine & Applied Art, Sculpture, at the University of Ulster, Belfast. He has recently been involved in the evolution of "Interface" - Research Centre, at the University of Ulster, which will develop Research Projects relating to the reality of 'Contested Spaces'.

As an artist much of his past work has evolved out of a series of dialogues with the specifics of place, location, context, or site. He has created Interventions, Performance Art Works, Install-actions, & Installations, in a wide range of places both locally and internationally. These include: Churches, Monasteries, Castles, City Streets, Squares or Alleyways, a River Source, Beach, Funeral Parlour, as well as Art Galleries & Museums.

He has also a broad experience with Public Art Commission Processes as a Commissioned Artist, as a member of Design Teams, and as part of organising committees and selection panels.

He has created durable Public Artworks for various locations including:Dublin Port, St. Anne's Square, Belfast, Royal Victoria and Antrim Hospitals, Microsoft Ireland's Headquarters in Dublin, Knockbracken Healthcare Trust, and Coleraine Borough Council etc.

He is currently on the management committee of Flaxart, BBeyond, and Moyle Art in Public Places, all which initiate or develop projects that deal with aspects of contextual art.

Selected One Person Exhibitions and Performances

2004 "History lesson", Site Specific 'Install-action', Europa Restaurant, as part of 'Interakja' International Festival of Performance, Pyotcove Trybulinska, Poland. Curated by Jan Swindinski.
2003 .In-tension, Spirit & Matter., Site Specific durational .Install-action, Oratorio di San Ludvico, Venice. Curated by Nouvo Icona, Venice.

Selected Public Art Commissions

2005/06 "Orbits" & "Torc", Two Mosaic Sculptures created for the Shannon Clinic, Knockbracken Healthcare Park, Belfast, Commissioned through Open Tender/Artists Panel Process, funded S.E.H.B. and ACNI.

Selected Projects Initiated

2005 Initiated the .In Place of Passing. International Performance Art Project curated by Bbeyond. Eight International and four local artists toured Northern Ireland by bus and created site-specific performance artworks in a range of divergent contexts.