Peter Monaghan

Peter hails from Dublin, Ireland (b.1955). In the mid-1970s, he graduated from the National College of Art and Design, Dublin, and subsequently joined Dara O’Lochlainn’s groundbreaking design firm, where he garnered several awards for his packaging, graphic, and industrial design. In 1983, he established his own graphic design firm, Monaghan Design, and later became a partner in Creative Inputs. His portfolio included designing catalogues for the National Gallery and the Irish Museum of Modern Art.

In 2000, Peter shifted his focus from design to dedicate himself full-time to painting and sculpture. His design background continues to exert a profound influence on his current artwork that he describes as:

“…the result of a disciplined research into the experience of looking – the experience of pure visual sensation and aesthetic pleasure. Simple forms and colours are used in repetition to engage the viewer. It is a dialogue about light, colour, movement and illusion; exploring the relationships and contrasts between painted flat surfaces, protruding spheres, cubes or geometric shapes. The work aims to evoke a response from the viewer.”

‘Evoking a response from the viewer’ is at the core of Peter’s artworks.  With every precise detail accurately worked out beforehand and precisely conceived, his exploration of the dynamism between 2d and 3d poses challenging questions about how we perceive art. 

In 2010, Peter gained national recognition, receiving the National Allianz Business Award for commissioned artists. He has has had solo exhibitions in Dublin, London, mainland Europe, Asia, and the United States, earning both critical acclaim and commercial success. His commissioned work adorns prestigious locations in Dublin, including the V.I.P. Presidential Suite in Dublin Airport, the Gibson Hotel, the Beacon Clinic, and large-scale installations for University College Dublin’s recent scientific wing.

Click here to read 'An Interview with Peter Monaghan'