Michael Cullen
Celebrated artist with a passion for travel used bright colours to express his wit and zest for life, writes
THE artist Michael Cullen, who died in Dublin on July 10 following a long illness, painted big, bright and often brash paintings, many influenced by his extensive travels in Spain, Morocco and Mexico.
“His use of bright, clean, saturated colour was always expertly judged,” said Sabina Mac Mahon, of Dublin’s Taylor Galleries, his main representative since the late 1960s.
“His paintings and prints are populated by an eclectic crew of cowboys, elephants, circus performers, bullfighters, infantas and camels,” she said, “which communicates his deep love of his medium, as well as his zest for life.”
He was also, she said, a “thoroughly nice man” and greatly respected by other artists.
Born in Kilcoole, Co Wicklow, in 1946, Mick as he was known to friends, studied painting at the Central School of Art and Design, London and Brighton School of Art, before returning to Dublin to the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) in the early 1970s.
He deferred his graduation from NCAD to go to Spain and travelled extensively there and in Morocco and Mexico, with travel becoming an “enduring passion” of his life and an inspiration for his art.
“His contribution to art in Ireland and his presence within our community of artists will be sorely missed,” said Professor Kevin Rafter, chair of the Arts Council of England, in his tribute.
Described as “a great painter and lovely man” who enjoyed ordinary pursuits such as meeting friends for a pint and a chat, he returned to Ireland in the mid-1990s after long sojourns away, living in Ranelagh, and keeping a studio in Henrietta Street, Dublin.
“The street won’t be the same without him,” one of his neighbours said.
Cullen was represented by the prestigious Taylor Galleries in Kildare Street which hosted most of his 35 solo exhibitions.
His work is to be found in the collections of the National Gallery, the Hugh Lane Gallery and Irish Museum of Modern Art among other public and private collections.
It is also to be found in many international collections, both public and corporate, including the Berlin Senate.
Cullen was elected a member of the Aosdana, the Irish academy of arts, in 1984 and a full member of the Royal Hibernia Academy (RHA) in 2007.
He threw himself into his work with the Academy and for many years took on the considerable task of overseeing the hanging of pictures for the annual showpiece, the RHA Exhibition in Ely Place.
His paintings have been variously described as having an “attractive vitality” and being “theatrical” with the use of bright, vibrant colours and exotic subjects reflecting the different cultures he soaked up on his travels.
His one dark, but fruitful, period was spent in Germany.
In many ways, he was an “unIrish” painter in that his work reflected international themes rather than the Irish landscapes of many of his contemporaries.
More recently, he also developed a series of colourful paintings around Gaelic mythology which suited his style.
He lived in Ranelagh with his wife and family but continued his love with Spain in particular and one of his last exhibitions was inspired by the sights and sounds of the Sierra de las Nieves, west of Malaga, where he spent much of his time.
“An artist’s artist, Mick was charming, affable, gentle, sincere, witty, kind and immensely talented,” said Sabina Mac Mahon. “His loss will be felt deeply by all.”
Michael Cullen, who was 74, is survived by his wife Brigid and children Marie-Claire, Timothy and Emily.