John Roch Simons
About
Simons, a self-taught artist born in Dublin (1964), has worked as a portrait artist with subjects including The Edge from U2, actor Sean McGinley, Shane MacGowan of the Pogues and the late Mr Justice Dermot Kinlen.
He has exhibited in the National Portrait awards on various occasions, exhibited in the Arts Club Dublin, Temple Bar in Dublin and in the Arts Centre in Foster place Dublin.
Simons has works in the Bank of Ireland collection. In 2007 he was one of the winners of the AIB calendar photograph competition and has works used by Penguin Ireland (“Ronnie”)
Simons installation "Art and the Experience unfinished" was exhibited in Shanghai, Beijing and Hangzhou in 2007, in "Cead in China" which he had sponsored by Culture Ireland and the Arts Council.
In July 2008 Simons’ solo show "Three portraits about one thing" was exhibited in the Hot Sun Gallery, 798 area in Beijing and Government artspace in Shanghai both which is sponsored by Culture Ireland in association with the 411 Galleries.
In 2010 Simons was the only Irish artist to have a solo exhibition at the World Expo in Shanghai, as part of the Irish Governments participation at the Event. This was sponsored by Culture Ireland.
Exhibitions
1993 - Irish National Portrait Awards
1994 - Irish National Portrait Awards
1995 - First solo exhibition “Soliciting Art” was held in Temple Bar
1999 - Sponsored by Richard Branson for “In the shadow of the century”
photo shoot and research in New York.
2001 - The Project Arts Dublin 2001
2002 - “New Boys” the Arts Club Dublin
2003 - Bank of Ireland purchase work of John Roch Simons
for their corporate collection
2004 - Bank of Ireland purchase second work of John Roch Simons
for their corporate collection
2005 - "3 Portraits about 1 thing" Arts Centre College Green Dublin
Bank of Ireland Purchases a third work for their collection
2007 - "Cead in Ireland" group show 411 Galleries , Beijing, Shanghai
and Hangzhou
- one of the winners to have my work included in the
Allied Irish Bank Calendar.
2008 - "3 Portraits about 1 thing" solo exhibition
Hot Sun Gallery with 411 Galleries 798 area Beijing
and 411 Galleries Shanghai
"Is Mise Eire" group show - 411 Galleries Shanghai
2009 - "Drawing Eire" group show - 411 Galleries Shanghai
2010 - "Vas Eire - part 1" Simons was the only artist to have a solo exhibition
as part of Irelands representation at the World Expo Shanghai
"An Eire of the senses" group show 411 Galleries as
part of Ireland representation at the World Expo Shanghai
2010 - Dublin Theatre Festival "Yellow Pieta" and "Yellow Flower"
at Kevin Kavanagh Gallery Dublin
2011 - Sh Contemporary Art Fair - 411 Galleries Shanghai
2012 - 182nd RHA Annual Exhibition
2013 - “21 Symbols of Ireland” Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre
Awards
2007 one of the Winners of Allied Irish Bank Calendar competition
2007 Arts Council Ireland travel award
Culture Ireland Bursary award
2007 Arts Council Ireland travel award
Culture Ireland Bursary award
2008 Culture Ireland Bursary award
2010 Culture Ireland Bursary award
2013 Culture Ireland Award