Richard Kirwan
Richard’s practice incorporates painting, digital and analogue printmaking, coupled with architectural intervention.
Staff details
Richard Kirwan’s studio practice incorporates painting, digital and analogue printmaking, coupled with architectural intervention and installation. His paintings are characterised by an acknowledgement and critical engagement with Modernism, particularly the art historically positioned periods of Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism, Conceptualism and Pop Art.
Kirwan’s paintings explore boundaries between restricted palettes of colour, applied to hard-edged geometric systems and structures, recalling the disciplines of Modernist architecture and design. His work seeks to question assumptions of theoretical and formal hierarchy, displacing notions of ‘purity’ with real world ‘contamination’.
A solo exhibition, The Post-Critical Unknown at Galerie Hollenbach, Stuttgart, Germany, demonstrated Kirwan’s ongoing investigation between painting practice and shifts in comprehension and interpretation brought about by particular or given contexts.
Kirwan’s work has been widely exhibited, both nationally and internationally, with presentations throughout Europe, as well as Singapore, Brazil, Australia, Japan and the USA.
Academic Qualifications
2009 – 2012 External Assessor, 2D Pathway, Central St Martins, UAL
2002 Abbey Fellowship in Painting, British School at Rome, Italy
1992 – 1994 MA, Fine Art, Goldsmiths College, University of London
1989 – 1992 BA, Fine Art, University of Brighton
Teaching
1999 – present Lecturer in Studio Practice, BA Fine Art & History of Art, Goldsmiths College
1999 – 2002 Visiting Lecturer, BA Fine Art, University of West of England UWE, Bristol
1996 - 1998 Visiting Lecturer, Extension Degree, Goldsmiths College, University of London
Professional projects
2015 Richard Kirwan: Gravity Lecture Series Discovery & The Pleasure of Form Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield.
2014 Richard Kirwan: Painting In Particular Chelsea School of Art UAL, London
2010 Richard Kirwan: René Daniëls Public Gallery Talk, Camden Art Centre, London
2009 La Peinture est Presque Abstrait Public Panel Discussion, Institute Français, London
Featured Publications
La Salle de Bains – Anthologie d’expositions Depuis 1999-2013 Authors: Nicolas Garait-Leavenworth, Jill Gasparina, Bob Nickas, Eric Troncy. Published by Les Presses du Reel et Ministere de la Culture et de la Communication ISBN 978 2 918288 02 9
The Indiscipline of Painting Authors: Terry R Myers, Daniel Sturgis, Alison Greene, Stephen Moonie, Bob Nickas Published by Tate Publishing ISBN 978 1 84976 000 3
Plastic Culture - Legacies of Pop 1986 - 2009 Authors: Dr Roger Cook, Richard Kirwan Published by Harris Museum & Art Gallery ISBN 1 871575 28 1
John Moores 25 - Exhibition of Contemporary Painting Authors: Jake & Dinos Chapman, Sacha Craddock, Graham Crowley, Paul Morrison Published by National Museums, Liverpool ISBN 978 1 902700 35 9
Painting As a Foreign Language Authors: Gerard Hemsworth, Suhail Malik Published by Edificio Cultura Inglesa, Brazil ISBN 85 88116 07 3
Publications and research outputs
Show/Exhibition
- Richard Kirwan - In Order of Appearance Kirwan, Richard . 2025. Richard Kirwan - In Order of Appearance. In: "In Order of Appearance", Lungley Gallery, London, United Kingdom, 30 October - 13 December 2025.
- Sturm und Drang 37 Foley Street Kirwan, Richard . 2024. Sturm und Drang 37 Foley Street. In: "Sturm und Drang 37 Foley Street", Lungley Gallery, London, United Kingdom, 25 May - 22 June 2024.
- An Artist's Question, July Kirwan, Richard . 2023. An Artist's Question, July. In: "An Artist's Question, July", British School at Rome Gallery, Italy, July 2023.
Exhibition Catalogue
- Richard Kirwan - Intelectual Property Kirwan, Richard ; and Bolivar, Juan. 2022. Richard Kirwan - Intelectual Property.
- The Collector's Room David, Karen. 2020. The Collector's Room.
Conference or Workshop Item
- Painting Symposium Kirwan, Richard ; Donkor, Kimathi; and Ince-Mitchell, Jerome. 2022. 'Painting Symposium'. In: Painting Symposium. Camberwell College of Arts, UAL, United Kingdom 14 June 2022.
- Landless Art Histories – Why London is Also Part of Asia Wang, Victor; and Kirwan, Richard . 2021. 'Landless Art Histories – Why London is Also Part of Asia'. In: Landless Art Histories – Why London is Also Part of Asia. Royal Academy Schools, London, United Kingdom 24 March 2021.
- In conversation – Wolfgang Tillmans & Richard Kirwan Kirwan, Richard . 2021. 'In conversation – Wolfgang Tillmans & Richard Kirwan'. In: Wolfgang Tilmans in conversation with Richard Kirwan. London, United Kingdom 25 January 2021.
Art Object
- Prototype for an Illusionistic Screen (2020) Kirwan, Richard . 2020. Prototype for an Illusionistic Screen (2020).
- Flow State Kirwan, Richard . 2018. Flow State.
Article
- Object Lessons - Richard Kirwan interview with Prem Sahib, Kira Freije, Richie Moment Kirwan, Richard . 2024. Object Lessons - Richard Kirwan interview with Prem Sahib, Kira Freije, Richie Moment. RA The Royal Academy of Arts Magazine(163), pp. 43-44. ISSN 0956-9332
- Jasper Johns : Regrets – The Courtauld Gallery London, 12th September – 14th December 2014 Kirwan, Richard . 2016. Jasper Johns : Regrets – The Courtauld Gallery London, 12th September – 14th December 2014. Journal of Contemporary Painting, 2(1), pp. 133-155. ISSN 2052-6695
Book
- Richard Kirwan - In Order of Appearance Kirwan, Richard ; Burnett, Craig; and Carroll, Maureen. 2025. Richard Kirwan - In Order of Appearance. London: Alpine Road Publishing. ISBN 9781999868789
Book Section
- Soho House Art Collection Kirwan, Richard . 2023. Soho House Art Collection. In: Kate Bryan, ed. House Art: White City House. London: Soho House Ltd.
- Animals & Insects Kirwan, Richard . 2009. Animals & Insects. In: UNSPECIFIED, ed. File Note 38: Liz Arnold. London: Camden Arts Centre. ISBN 9781900470919
Image
- RA Magazine front cover concept and typeface design Kirwan, Richard . 2024. RA Magazine front cover concept and typeface design.
Professional Activity
- AXA Art Prize UK 2025 Kirwan, Richard . 2025. AXA Art Prize UK 2025.
- External Examiner City & Guilds School of Art London Kirwan, Richard . 2022. External Examiner City & Guilds School of Art London.
- External Examiner 2D Pathway, Central St Martins, University of the Arts, London Kirwan, Richard . External Examiner 2D Pathway, Central St Martins, University of the Arts, London.
Other
- Drawing & Naming Kirwan, Richard ; Wilson, Stephen; and Parris, Janette. 2025. Drawing & Naming. University of the Arts London (UAL), Camberwell College of Arts, London.
- Jeremy Moon - Starlight Hour Kirwan, Richard . 2022. Jeremy Moon - Starlight Hour. Luhring Augustine, New York.
- Companionship in the Age of Loneliness Kirwan, Richard . 2019. Companionship in the Age of Loneliness. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.