John Byrne: Welcome To My World
Past exhibition
Overview
John is an epiphany baby, born 6th January 1940. 2020 began, then, with a notable birthday and an unreasonably busy calendar that included a new theatre production, in conversations, a television profile, a legion of requests that are patiently accepted and a gallery show. Much of it to celebrate him turning 80 though it’s not that different to most years. We know what happened next and much that was planned is now postponed. Except one, this show. For John life carries on: the solitary world of an artist and the gift of uninterrupted time in his studio.
The show is about John looking back at himself. An autobiography of sorts. Artists have self-scrutinised through the centuries and nowadays everyone is at it with selfies. Unlike the vacuity of the latter, John looks beyond the surface but what the revelation is we, the viewer, are not privy. The double portraits of John talking to his young self are, perhaps, those most easily given a narrative. What words of advice might we offer to our younger selves? Would we listen, if we were told?
John’s imagination is set to a sound track of the 60s: the show shares its title with a Jim Reeves song released as a single in 1964. Alongside the portraits is the Paisley of John’s youth and imagined vignettes of New York life, a city that impacted on him.
For enquiries please contact edinburgh@thefineartsociety.com
Works
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John Byrne RSAReturn to New York, 2020signed; titled and inscribed on stretcher versooil on linen27 1/2 x 19 1/2 in
69.8 x 49.5 cm -
John Byrne RSASkinny Self Portrait, 2019signedoil on scraperboard8 x 5 in
20.3 x 12.7 cm -
John Byrne RSASkinny Self Portrait II, 2020initialledwatercolour on scraperboard12 x 5 1/2 in
30.5 x 14 cm -
John Byrne RSAMe and my shadow, 2019signedoil on scraperboard6 1/2 x 12 in
16.5 x 30.5 cm -
John Byrne RSASelf portrait in striped t-shirt, 2019signedoil on scraperboard5 1/4 x 5 in
13.3 x 12.7 cm -
John Byrne RSASelf Portrait in 'Misha' t-shirt, 2019signedoil on scraperboard11 x 8 in
27.9 x 20.3 cm -
John Byrne RSAGuy with cat, 2019signedoil on scraperboard9 3/4 x 6 1/2 in
24.8 x 16.5 cm -
John Byrne RSANight in the City, 2020signedoil on canvas11 3/4 x 9 1/4 in
29.8 x 23.5 cm -
John Byrne RSAOld Guy in Sloppy Joe, 2020signedoil on scraperboard8 x 7 in
20.3 x 17.8 cm -
John Byrne RSAHappy-Go-Lucky, 2020signedwatercolour on scraperboard11 1/2 x 8 3/4 in
29.2 x 22.2 cm -
John Byrne RSAMe & Him, 2020signed; initialled JB, titled and inscribed with medium versoink and watercolour on scraperboard14 1/4 x 11 1/2 in
36.2 x 29.2 cm -
John Byrne RSAMe & Him II, 2020signedink and bodycolour on canvas19 3/4 x 19 3/4 in
50.2 x 50.2 cm -
John Byrne RSAThe Shock, 2020signedoil on board20 x 24 in
50.8 x 61 cm -
John Byrne RSAHands Up, 2020signedbodycolour on scraperboard4 1/2 x 4 1/2 in
11.4 x 11.4 cm -
John Byrne RSASelf Portrait in Yellow Hat1 of 2; signed and numbered 'AP' in pencil to margin; initialled JB and inscribed versohand coloured lithograph7 3/4 x 5 in
19.7 x 12.7 cm
Sheet size: 13 3/4 x 10 1/2 inches -
John Byrne RSAThe Quandary, 2020signedoil, gouache and undercoat on canvas15 3/4 x 11 3/4 in
40 x 29.8 cm -
John Byrne RSAMandolin and Bust, 2020titled and inscribed on linen versoink and watercolour on linen11 3/4 x 9 1/2 in
29.8 x 24.1 cm -
John Byrne RSAYellow Guitar, 2020initialled; titled and inscribed on board versooil on linen on canvas board12 x 10 in
30.5 x 25.4 cm -
John Byrne RSAR & B, 2020titled and inscribed on linen versooil and bodycolour on linen11 3/4 x 9 1/2 in
29.8 x 24.1 cm -
John Byrne RSAGuitar and Lime, 2020initialled; titled and inscribed on linen versogouache and ink on linen12 x 11 3/4 in
30.5 x 29.8 cm -
John Byrne RSABlue Moon, 2020signed; initialled JB, titled and inscribed with medium versoink and gouache on panel13 1/2 x 5 3/4 in
34.3 x 14.6 cm -
John Byrne RSABoogie Woogie, 2020initialled JB; initialled JB, titled and inscribed with medium versoink and gouache on panel13 1/2 x 5 3/4 in
34.3 x 14.6 cm -
John Byrne RSACafé Bar - Paris, 2020signed; initialled JB, titled and inscribed with medium versoink and watercolour on scraperboard15 1/4 x 10 1/4 in
38.7 x 26 cm -
John Byrne RSAThe Assassin, 2020signedink and bodycolour on panel13 1/4 x 11 1/2 in
33.7 x 29.2 cm -
John Byrne RSAThe Dizzy, 2020signed; initialled JB, titled and inscribed with medium versoink, watercolour, gouache and tempera on paper16 1/4 x 12 1/4 in
41.3 x 31.1 cm -
John Byrne RSATeddy Boy outside Paisley's Bug Hut, 2019oil on scraperboard12 x 6 1/2 in
30.5 x 16.5 cm -
John Byrne RSATeddy Boy with Moon and Cat, 2019signedoil on scraperboard12 x 8 3/4 in
30.5 x 22.2 cm -
John Byrne RSAStood Up, 2020signedink and gouache on Arches paper laid on board30 x 22 5/8 in
76.2 x 57.5 cm -
John Byrne RSAPaisley Teddyboy, 2020signed; titled and inscribed on stretcher versooil and bodycolour on linen15 3/4 x 11 3/4 in
40 x 29.8 cm -
John Byrne RSAConstruction Worker, 2020ink and bodycolour on Arches paper28 1/2 x 19 7/8 in
72.4 x 50.5 cm -
John Byrne RSADowntown, 2020titled and inscribed on board versooil on canvas board15 3/4 x 11 3/4 in
40 x 29.8 cm -
John Byrne RSASmokey Joe, 2020signed; titled and inscribed on linen versooil and bodycolour on linen9 1/2 x 12 in
24.1 x 30.5 cm -
John Byrne RSAThe Statement, 2020signedgouache on scraperboard10 x 8 in
25.4 x 20.3 cm -
John Byrne RSAThe father of Man, 2020signed; inscribed on linen versooil and bodycolour on linen15 3/4 x 15 3/4 in
40 x 40 cm -
John Byrne RSADowntown Black Guy, 2020gouache on paper10 1/8 x 7 in
25.7 x 17.8 cm -
John Byrne RSAHappy Guy - NY, 2020signed and initialled JB; titled, initialled JB and inscribed with medium versoink and watercolour on scraperboard9 x 8 1/4 in
22.9 x 21 cm -
John Byrne RSABy The Sea, 2020signedoil and bodycolour on scraperboard3 1/2 x 12 in
8.9 x 30.5 cm -
John Byrne RSAThe Pilgrim, 2020signed; titled and inscribed on linen versooil and bodycolour on linen19 3/4 x 15 3/4 in
50.2 x 40 cm -
John Byrne RSAThe Runner, 2019signedoil on scraperboard6 x 8 1/2 in
15.2 x 21.6 cm -
John Byrne RSASelf Portrait with Red Kerchiefsigned and numbered 'AP' in pencil to margin; inscribed versoscreenprint22 1/2 x 12 3/4 in
57.1 x 32.4 cm
Sheet size: 28 1/4 x 18 1/4 in -
John Byrne RSABlack Guy New York, 2020signedoil and pencil on board28 1/4 x 16 7/8 in
71.8 x 42.9 cm -
John Byrne RSABlind Date, 2020signed and titledpencil and ink14 1/4 x 10 1/4 in
36.2 x 26 cm -
John Byrne RSACharacter/Costume Sketch for Adaptation of 'The Cherry Orchard' by Anton Chekov, 2020signed, titled and inscribedpencil, pen and ink on paper11 x 10 1/4 in
27.9 x 26 cm -
John Byrne RSAChuck Berry, 2019signedoil on scraperboard11 3/4 x 8 1/4 in
29.8 x 21 cm -
John Byrne RSAJames Deanink on card15 1/4 x 11 1/2 in
38.7 x 29.2 cm -
John Byrne RSA, Juggling Pyrites 21/60
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John Byrne RSASelf Portrait in Striped Top, 2020signedoil on Arches paper laid on board19 3/4 x 12 in
50.2 x 30.5 cm -
John Byrne RSATrotsky and Sorley, 2020signed and inscribed 'Character & Costume Drawings for 'The Cherry Orchard' adapted from Chekov's [sic] original and set in the far North of Scotland by John Byrne'pencil, pen and ink9 3/4 x 7 1/2 in
24.8 x 19.1 cm -
John Byrne RSAWeekend in Manhattan, 2020initialled JBoil on Arches paper laid on board32 x 24 1/4 in
81.3 x 61.6 cm -
John Byrne RSAYellow Hat from Clifden, Connemara, 2020signedoil on Arches paper laid on board29 7/8 x 24 3/8 in
75.9 x 61.9 cm
![John Byrne RSA Trotsky and Sorley, 2020 signed and inscribed 'Character & Costume Drawings for 'The Cherry Orchard' adapted from Chekov's [sic] original and set in the far North of Scotland by John Byrne' pencil, pen and ink 9 3/4 x 7 1/2 in 24.8 x 19.1 cm](https://artlogic-res.cloudinary.com/w_600,c_limit,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/artlogicstorage/thefineartsociety/images/view/3105db14ebd8cf1f064cdb2d57da45fej/thefineartsocietyltd-john-byrne-rsa-trotsky-and-sorley-2020.jpg)
Installation Views
Virtual Exhibition
