22/1/26—7/2/26
Paddy Critchley—Painter / Painter
Opening:
6–8pm Thursday 22nd January
Exhibition runs:
Friday 23rd January–Saturday 7th February
Pallas Projects are pleased to present Paddy Critchley—Painter / Painter, the first exhibition of our 2026 Artist-Initiated Projects programme.
Painter / Painter is an exhibition and performance by Paddy Critchley. In this exhibition, Paddy reflects on recent explorations within his work. This exhibition brings together work that reacts to his lived experience of contemporary folk culture in Ireland, along with references to his work as a painter and decorator. Paddy’s paintings work as a body, each one in dialogue with another. From portraits of friends and flowers to words and meditations, Paddy uses paint as his way of understanding the world. Paddy’s love of Irish ballads and songs, especially the work of Brendan and Dominic Behan, underpins the work in this exhibition.
Tá riméad ar Pallas Projects Paddy Critchley—Péintéir /Péintéir, an chéad taispeántais dár chlár detionscanamh Ealaíntóir-stiúirtha 2026.
Is taispeántas agus cur i láthair é Péintéir / Péintéir le Paddy Critchley. San taispeántas seo, déanann Paddy machnamh ar iniúchadh faoi leith ina chuid saothar le déanaí. Is cnuasach é an taispeántas de saothar Paddy a bhfuil mar dearcadh dá chuid taithí ar dúchas comhaimseartha na hÉireann, i dteannta tagairtí de réir a chleachtas mar phéintéir agus oirnéalaí. Oibríonn pictiúirí Paddy mar colainn, gach aon phíosa i mbun comhrá lena chéile. Uaidh portráid de cairde agus bláthanna go dtí focla agus machnamh, baineann Paddy feidhm as an phéint le ciall a dhéanamh as an saoil. Is bonn don taispeántas seo é dúil Paddy i mbailéid agus amhrán na hÉireannach, go háirithe saothar Brendan agus Dominic Behan.
Image Description: Black Sod Bay
An oil on canvas painting, that depicts two daffodils in a jar, in front of a Mayo flag, amidst a grey, wintery sky. The words ‘Black Sod Bay’ are written along the bottom of the canvas.
Events
Performance
Thursday 22nd January, 11am-2pm, & 3-6pm
Paddy embarks on his first-ever durational performance to coincide with the opening of his show, where he will explore the various aspects of his life as a painter and a house painter. He is interested in the intersections and societal attitudes towards each. Both parts of his life are equally important and propel each other, and he wishes to explore this during the performance.
Paddy Critchley in Conversation with Sara Greavu
Thursday 5th February, 6pm
Paddy Critchley is joined in conversation with Sara Greavu , Director of Fire Station Artist Studios, where they will talk about the exhibition ‘Painter / Painter’, and Paddy’s work up until this point, including themes such as politics, class, labour and oral histories, and new directions in performance and expanded painting.
Biography:
Paddy Critchley (b.1998, Ireland) is a painter working in Dublin, Ireland. Also a painter and decorator his approach to art making is symbiotic to his lived experiences. He is interested in painting in its ‘high’ and ‘low’ cultural forms; on canvas, painting and decorating, and in sign-painted lettering. His work traces people’s stories through oral traditions in Ireland such as the singing of ballads, telling of stories and the transmission of the Irish language. Paddy is interested in painting life as it unfolds around him.
Artist-Initiated Projects at Pallas Projects/Studios is an open-submission, annual gallery programme of 8 x 3-week exhibitions taking place from January - December 2026. 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.