Studio Viewing Room
Newsletter , Autumn 2021

Several projects and events arrive in one week this Autumn. It is a year since my last newsletter from the Studio Viewing Room, an attempt to connect more directly that began in early lockdown. You can follow the links to each individually below & return here if lost.
This Autumn sees the fruition of a long delayed real world project curating an exhibition for The Model of fellow painter and long time friend Patrick Hall (b.1935) – Beginnings pulls threads from his earliest work in London in the 1950’s through current work in his rural Co Sligo studio, offering an encounter with the 'beginners mind' lying at the heart of his work and life. I have spent each Sunday since the first lockdown with Patrick in his Garden, house and studio. Initially planning this exhibition & keeping company in difficult times, then evolving into the new possibilities of a working dynamic together in his studio workspace – something that rarely occurs in an individual painter’s life. For me it presented a sustained opportunity to deepen my engagement with portraiture during this weekly encounter as he painted, absorbed in new Working Drawings.
Beginnings | Patrick Hall is open from 23rd October extended until to 30th January 2022 with a conversation between us both in the gallery at 2pm on Saturday 6th November (view film online). One of the many resulting portraits of Patrick Hall will also be on show at The National Gallery of Ireland, from 13th November as part of the shortlist for the Zurich Portrait Prize. On Thursday November 4th at 5.30pm I am giving an online presentation for the RHA The Sitting book series which looks at how contemporary artists have used human subjects, social groups and relationships in the formation of their practice. From Friday November 5th at The Ballinglen Museum of Art, in an exhibition curated by Anne Mullee, I am showing my first ever large scale Truckscape painting made in the mobile studio in 1998. It has never been exhibited, and has been wrapped & in the studio for 23 years. The subject is the wondrous cliffs at Benwee Head in Co Mayo.
And finally opening on December 3rd at Art Space Gallery, London is Step and Stair a show curated by Dr Jon Wood and Michael Richardson to celebrate 35 years of the gallery (I first showed there in 1998). Delighted to be showing with one of my painter heroes, the late Leon Kossoff and others such as Basil Beattie and Deanna Petherbridge.
Nick
Beginnings | Patrick Hall
Curated by Nick Miller at The Model
23rd October - extended to 30th January 2022
Patrick Hall in conversation with Nick Miller
Sat 6th November @ 2pm, The Model,
The filmed conversation can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfDzFlpw4qg
or via The Model
Click images to view more
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Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model
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Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model
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Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model
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Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model
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Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model
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Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model
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Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model
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Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model
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Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model
Click images to view more
Beginnings | Patrick Hall : Resources
Publication with text by Nick Miller
PDF is available: HERE
or Online at The Model
FILM :
Patrick Hall in conversation with Nick Miller VIEW HERE
View installation images: HERE
Images above:
1. Patrick Hall. El Limonar, Malaga, Spain 1972 Photo
2. (hover) Dancing on the dead, Ink & acrylic on paper, 2012, 32 x 34 cm
Images left:
1. Working Drawing 9. Patrick Hall, 2021, Acrylic & watercolour on paper, 25 x 25 cm
2. (hover) Patrick Hall, – Sundays painting. Co Sligo, studio, 2021. Nick Miller & Patrick Hall
Zurich Portrait Prize
National Gallery of IrelandRight: Studies of Patrick Hall – painting 2020-21, Studio wall.
Below:
Portrait of Patrick Hall – painting
Nick Miller | 2021 | Oil pastel / paint on linen | 102 x 92 cm
Zurich Portrait Prize | National Gallery of Ireland
Click images to view more
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Nick Miller & Patrick Hall - Sundays painting. Co Sligo, studio, 2021.
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Portrait of Patrick Hall – painting Nick Miller | 2021 | Oil pastel and paint on linen | 102 x 92 cm
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Studio views: Painting Patrick Hall 20220-2021
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Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model
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Studio views: Painting Patrick Hall 20220-2021
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Studio views: Painting Patrick Hall 20220-2021
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Studio views: Painting Patrick Hall 20220-2021
Click images to view more
Portrait of Patrick Hall – painting
Zurich Portrait Prize
National Gallery of Ireland
13 November 2021 - 3rd April 2022
Crawford Art Gallery, Cork
23 April and 17 July 2022
Click images or HERE
for Selected studio views & work in progress
Other forthcoming shows and events
the way that we went
Ballinglen Museum of Art
Ballycastle, Co Mayo
5th November – 18th December 2021
In an exhibition curated by Anne Mullee for the Ballinglen Arts Foundation.
Showing this never before exhibited painting:
Benwee Head (1998), Oil on linen , 183 x 183cm .
Coming out for a first ever showing after 23 years in studio storage, I am delighted this painting will be seen in Co Mayo, where it was made on site in 1998 - the first large scale TRUCKSCAPE I ever made, as a novice 4 tonne truck driver reversing ever closer to the cliff edge. A painting that holds all the thrill of adventure & discovery – of being able to paint on site, in nature at scale but protected from the elements.
Details & Press Release | Selected Images
Click images to view more
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Benwee Head, 1998. OIl on linen, 183 x 183 cm | on show Ballinglen Museum of Art
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Benwee Head, 1998. OIl on linen, 183 x 183 cm | unexhibited Truckscape coming out from 23 years in studio storage.
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the way that we went | 5th Nov-18th Dec |Ballinglen Museum of Art
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Invite: the way that we went | 5th Nov-18th Dec |Ballinglen Museum of Art
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Mobile Studio (2004) Photo: the way that we went | 5th Nov-18th Dec |Ballinglen Museum of Art
Click images to view more
the way that we went
Ballinglen Museum of Arts
The Ballinglen Arts Foundation
Main Street, Ballycastle, Co Mayo.
Benwee Head, 1998. . Oil on linen, 183 x 183 cm
Studio & work IMAGES
Artists Include:
Cecilia Dannell, Comhghall Casey, Donald Teskey,
Éanna Byrt, Eithne Jordan, Geraldine O’Reilly,
Kathy Tynan , Kaye Maahs, Martin Gale,
Matthew Mitchell, Mollie Douthit, Nick Miller
Nuala Clarke, Patrick Harris, Peter Burns,
Selma Makela, Will O’Kane
RHA Talk Series
The Sitting Book |
The talks series looks at how contemporary artists have used human subjects, social groups and relationships in the formation of their practice. FREE
Info & booking
Image: The absent Mind (Detail) , Nick Miller, 1984-2011 Multi media installation, RHA Dublin, 2011
The Window Seat
Laois Art House |
In Response to a poem "The Window Seat" by an old friend form my Dublin days, the Laois poet, Pat Boran. An Exhibition, publication, symposium and tour celebrating 10 years of Laois Art House and a creative space. Curated by Monica Flynn.
image: Blank canvas to the blaze (PH painting, study 2021)
Nick Miller. Oil pastel on paper, mounted on linen, 30 x 30 cm
Step and Stair
Showing two new paintings from a series called Gatherings
Details & Press Release
Click images to view more
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Gathering II, Nick Miller, 2021, Oil on Linen, 60 x 50 cm
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Gathering I, Nick Miller, 2021, Oil on Linen, 60 x 50 cm
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Studio View | Galtherings II 2021
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Studio View | Galtherings II 2021
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Step and Stair | Art Space Gallery | Press Release
Click images to view more
Step and Stair | Works
Images above:
Gathering II, Nick Miller, 2021, Oil on Linen, 60 x 50 cm
Gathering I, Nick Miller, 2021, Oil on Linen, 60 x 50 cm
Left: Invitation and studio view (hover)
Studio & work view: IMAGES
Artists include:
Ivor Abrahams, Nick Andrews, Garry Barker, Basil Beattie, John Davies, Arturo di Stefano, Howard Eaglestone, Anthony Eyton, Peter Freeth, Anthony Green, Janis Hardiman, Charles Hewlings, Phill Hopkins, Derek Hyatt, Leon Kossoff, Nick Miller, Deanna Petherbridge, Carl Plackman, Peter Suchin and Michael Sandel.