Patrick O’Reilly (b. 1957 Kilkenny, Ireland) is a highly acclaimed Irish artist who studied at the Belfast school of Art. He has since achieved international fame for his innovative and dynamic visual works, having exhibited throughout Ireland & internationally for over two decades.
His work is included in many international museums and important private collections, and in 1996 O 'Reilly had a solo exhibition in the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery in Dublin. He has also won many awards including the RHA sculpture prize.
O’Reilly’s works are not only philosophical expressions of thoughts and experiences but also reflect his feelings, emotions, and personality. Monumental large-scale public commissions have allowed his sculptures to become much loved parts of the local landscape particularly in Ireland, with prominent sculptures standing outside the 3 Arena, Adare Manor, Burlington Road & Sandycove in Dublin. However, his work can be found all over the world including, a Strolling Bear in Paris and a bear wearing a tutu in Cape Town (Castle of Goodhope, 2004).
O’Reilly is represented by many major galleries including the Mayor Gallery in London, Gallery Vallois in Paris and Friedman Gallery on Maddison Avenue, New York. In addition, he has exhibited at prestigious international art fairs including Tefaf in Maastricht, At Basel & Art Miami.
O’Reilly now lives and works between studios in Dublin, Venice, Madrid and the Auvergne.
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Art at the Falls
Sheen Falls Lodge, Kenmare 14 Sep - 12 Oct 2025 This autumn, Gormleys will bring an intimate art experience to the luxurious Sheen Falls Lodge in Kenmare, Kerry. From September 14th to October 12th, the lodge’s stunning natural surroundings will serve as the backdrop for an inspiring exhibition featuring works by leading Irish and international artists. Highlights include a striking... Read more -
Art + Soul
Art and Sculpture Exhibition at the Culloden Estate 27 Jul - 31 Aug 2025 Art + Soul International Art and Sculpture Exhibition returns to the Culloden Estate in Belfast this summer. The exhibition has become one of Belfast’s largest and most highly anticipated cultural events, with over 10,000 guests attending previously. The exhibition showcases a vast array of contemporary art and sculpture set against... Read more -
Art + Soul
Art and Sculpture Exhibition at Castlemartyr Resort 1 - 29 Jun 2025 Art + Soul International Art and Sculpture Exhibition returns to Castlemartyr Resort in Cork this summer. Now in its third year, the event has become one of Cork’s largest and most highly anticipated cultural events, with over 10,000 guests attending last year. The exhibition showcases a vast array of contemporary... Read more -
Only Dull People Are Brilliant at Breakfast
La Galerie Vallois, Paris 9 Jan - 1 Feb 2025 9 janvier - 1er février 2025 / 35, rue de Seine 75006 Paris / / T : +33 (0)1 43 25 17 34 / / vallois35@vallois.com / / www.galerierobertvallois.com / Read more -
Art + Soul
Art and sculpture exhibition at the K Club 10 Aug - 1 Sep 2024 Gormleys is delighted to bring Ireland's largest art and sculpture event to the K Club in Kildare. Art + Soul International Art and Sculpture Exhibition will take place from 10th August - 1st September and will feature over 300 artworks by some of the biggest names in international & Irish... Read more -
Business Post: Meet the Artist: Patrick O’Reilly
13 Jun 2024 Kilkenny-born Patrick O’Reilly is one of Ireland’s most celebrated contemporary sculptors. His work draws from both classical and Mannerist influences as well as from the imagery of contemporary comic and pop art. The universe he constructs evokes reverie, poetry, history and especially childhood themes through its iconic animal, the teddy... Read more -
Irish Independent: ‘I still hold out on the dream to light up Dublin’s Pigeon House chimneys’
8 Oct 2023 Patrick O'Reilly (64) is a sculptor renowned for his bear sculptures. Born in Ballyragget, Co Kilkenny, he lives in Howth, Co Dublin, with wife Geraldine. Tell us about your childhood Ballyragget is a small rural town where one could feel perfectly alone. It allowed me the privilege and pleasure of... Read more -
Patrick O' Reilly at Dargle Cottage Estate
29 Aug - 17 Sep 2022 Gormleys is delighted to present a major exhibition by renowned Irish sculptor Patrick O'Reilly. The exhibition will include 50 outdoor and indoor works, set on the award-winning grounds of Dargle Cottage Estate in Enniskerry. Read more -
Public Works
Dublin City Centre Sculpture Trail 19 Sep - 9 Oct 2021 Dublin city centre is set to host an outdoor sculpture trail featuring 12 life-size works from one of Ireland's top artists, Patrick O'Reilly. The trail, which has been installed in six locations in the heart of the capital, opened on Culture Night last Friday and continues until the end of... Read more -
Kintsugi
Gormleys Gallery 14 Jan - 28 Feb 2021 This new body of work is inspired by “Kintsugi” (Golden Repair), the Japanese art of putting broken objects back together; by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer dusted or mixed with gold, silver, or platinum. Spanning a wide variety of subjects, from dolls to rocking horses, hearts to pillars... Read more -
In Search of Lost Time
Gallery Vallois, New York 4 May - 29 Sep 2018 The exhibition by Patrick O’Reilly titled ‘In Search of Lost Time ’ was held in the Gallery Valois of New York City, showcasing an amalgamation of sculptures created in both bronze and mixed medias. The title refers to the illustrious novel written by French author, Marcel Proust, The central theme... Read more -
The Consideration of the Planets
Oliver Sears Gallery 29 Apr - 6 Jun 2013 ‘The Consideration of the Planets ’ was a solo exhibition of installation works and bronze sculptures created by Patrick O’Reilly held in the Oliver Sears Gallery in 2013. The exhibition was shown across two locations in Dublin city, between the gallery and O’Reilly’s studio which was located in the deconsecrated... Read more -
Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Oliver Sears Gallery 20 Oct - 20 Nov 2010 In 2010 an exhibition known as ‘Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast ’ showcased a new collection of works created by Patrick O’Reilly and was held in the Oliver Sears Gallery for the first time. This collection comprised exclusively of sculptural pieces and took its title from the famous passage featured... Read more
