Biography
James McCreary was born in Dublin in 1944. He worked at Harry Clarke’s stained glass studio between 1960-1963. From 1964-1978 he worked as a steel erector from Smith & Pearson’s structural engineering works. In 1973 he joined Graphic Studio Dublin, studying etching and lithography, which led to him becoming Studio Manager in 1980. He set-up the Visiting Artists programme, which introduced many of Ireland’s leading artists to printmaking over the past twenty-five years. Along with Mary Farl Powers and James O’Nolan he was responsible for the setting up of Graphic Studio Gallery in Cope Street in 1988. James McCreary was a Director of Graphic Studio Dublin from 1989-2000, a committee member 1975-2004. In 2004 he left his position as Studio Manager in order to concentrate solely on his own work. In 2005 James was invited to become a member of Aosdána.
He has represented Ireland at the Biennale of European Graphic Art in Heidelberg and the International Print Triennial in East Berlin (among others). His work can be found in the public collections of the Modern Art Museum in Cairo, the Chester Beatty Library, the National Gallery of Ireland and the Crawford Municipal Gallery in Cork.
Solo Exhibitions
2015 Custom house Studios, Westport, Co. Mayo
2014 Hamilton Gallery, Sligo
2011 Taller Galeria Fort, Caqaques, Spain
2005 Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin
2004 The Cracked Looking Glass, Dublin
2004 Old Print Shop, Lexington Avenue, New York
2004 Galleri Astley, Uttersberg, Sweden
2003 6e Triennal Mondiale Chamalieres, France
1993 Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin
1976 – 1978 Emmet Gallery, Dublin
1974 Project Arts Centre, Dublin
Two-person Exhibitions
2014 James McCreary and Ruth O’Donnell, SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin
2011 James McCreary and Leo Higgins, Hamilton Gallery, Sligo
2010 James McCreary and Leo Higgins, Galleri Astley, Uttersberg, Sweden
2008 James McCreary and Lars Nyberg, Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin
1997 James McCreary and Stephen Lawlor, Nordens Ljus, Stockholm
1993 James McCreary and Jenny Lane, Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin
1988 James McCreary and Leo Higgins, Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast
1983 James McCreary and Margaret Becker, Kilcock Art Gallery, Kildare
1982 James McCreary and Leo Higgins, Lincoln Gallery, Dublin
1982 James McCreary and Leo Higgins Bell Gallery, Belfast
1979 James McCreary and Mary Farl Powers, Bell Gallery, Belfast
Three Person Exhibitions
2024 Of Night And Light And Half Light, James McCreary, Lars Nyberg and Richard Lawlor, SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin
2010 James McCreary, Leo Higgins and Michael Cullen, Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin
2012 James McCreary, John Behan and Clare Henderson, Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023 Decennium, 10th Anniversary Exhibition, SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin
2022 Back Country, SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin
2022 Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts, Annual Exhibition, Dublin
2022 60 Years of Graphic Studio Dublin, Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin
2021 Winter Exhibition 2021, Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin
2020 Graphic Studio Dublin at London Original Print Fair, Graphic Studio Dublin
2019 Re Original Prints 2019, Bankside Gallery, London
2019 The Works, B&A Print Collection
2018 – 1989, Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin
2018 Féile Gheimhridh – Winter Exhibition, SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin
2018 Here Comes The Night, Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin
2012 The Hy-Brasil Expedition, Graphic Studio, Dublin
2009 Artist’s Proof, Chester Beatty Library, Dublin
2007 Dublin Port Print, Dublin
Awards
2011 Mini Print International, Caqaques, Spain
2007 Dublin Port Print, Exhibition
1999 Print Award, Iontas, Sligo
1995 Limerick Small Print Exhibition
1991 Irish Arts Council bursary
1984 Irish Arts Council travel grant
1984 Listowel International Print Biennale
1984 British International Print Biennale, Bradford, England 1984 Claremorris Open Exhibition
1981 Irish Arts Council Bursary
1981 Listowel Graphics Exhibition
1974 An-Oireachtas Art Exhibition