Lee Welch—In Praise of Idleness

Pallas Projects/Studios are pleased to present Lee Welch—In Praise of Idleness, the second exhibition of our 2024 Artist-Initiated Projects programme. This series of new paintings marks Welch's first solo presentation in a decade, following his celebrated exhibition at the Hugh Lane Gallery.

In Praise of Idleness invites viewers to explore the nuanced intersections of idleness, introspection, emotion and the complexities of the human condition. Inspired by Bertrand Russell's seminal essay of the same name, published in 1932, Welch's collection of new paintings and works on paper offers a compelling exploration of the significance of leisure in contemporary society. Drawing upon Russell's advocacy for the reevaluation of societal attitudes towards work.

Welch's evocative paintings capture moments of quietude and contemplation, offering viewers a glimpse into the innermost workings of the human psyche. From the tender vulnerability of David Foster Wallace to the enigmatic gaze of Samia Halaby, each canvas serves as a window into the complexities of the human experience, inviting viewers to reflect on the universal truths that bind us all together.

Drawing inspiration from an eclectic array of influences, including literature, history, and tennis, Welch's work transcends traditional artistic boundaries, offering a fresh perspective on timeless themes of beauty, desire, and the passage of time. Through his meticulous attention to detail and keen sensitivity to emotion, Welch creates a body of work that offers a profound meditation on the essence of being, inviting viewers to explore the depths of human emotion and experience.

Event

Biography:

Lee Welch was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1975 and currently lives and works in Dublin, Ireland. Welch creates gestural, atmospheric paintings that attest to the psychical and emotional depths of his chosen subjects and map out delicate negotiations between beauty, desire, and the painted image. Depicting figures from his own milieu, as well as from history, literature, music, and tennis, Welch finds feeling in that which he depicts, always rendered with the intensity of his particular humanism; a close looking akin to love. In each subject’s specificity, the artist reveals the universal feelings that connect us to each other, and that stretch from our present moment back through time.

Welch received his BFA from the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) in 2009 and his MFA from Piet Zwart Institute, Rotterdam in 2011.  He has since been widely exhibited internationally and received numerous awards. Recent exhibitions have taken place at the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, Michigan State University; Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane; Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León (MUSAC), León, Spain; Glucksman Gallery, Cork; Objectif Exhibitions, Antwerp and Kerlin Gallery, Dublin. His paintings are in private and public collections such as the Arts Council, Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane and the OPW - State Art Collection.

Website: leewelch.com

Instagram: @_leewelch_

Danny Denton is the author of the novels The Earlie King & the Kid In Yellow and All Along The Echo. His writing has also appeared in publications like Winter Papers, Granta, The Guardian, The Dublin Review and Tate, Etc. He lectures on writing at University College Cork and is a contributing editor to The Stinging Fly.

Lee Welch—In Praise of Idleness

Artist-Initiated Projects at Pallas Projects/Studios is an open-submission, annual gallery programme of 8 x 3-week exhibitions taking place from March-November 2024. This unique programme of funded, artist-initiated projects selected via open call is highly accessible to artists, with a focus on early career, emerging artists and recent graduates. Projects are supplemented with artists' talks, texts, workshops or performances, and gallery visits by colleges and local schools.