| Kevin Sharkey | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1962 Dublin, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Field | Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Printmaking, Ceramics, Illustration, Design |
Kevin Sharkey (born 1962) (Irish: Caoimhín Ó Searcaigh) is an Irish artist and designer.
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Sharkey was born in Dublin in 1962, but was brought up in Killybegs, County Donegal.[1]
Sharkey is a singer songwriter, artist who was (photographed by David Bailey),he is also an interior designerhe has written songs ] (for Bob Geldof and Boney M, for example). He was Ireland's first ever non-white television presenter on RTÉ's 'Megamix' and went on to present 'The Roxy' music show on ITV in the UK. He also appeared several times in Father Ted as Father Shaft, as well as becoming a 'farmhand' in Celebrity Farm. Collectors of his work include Charles Saacthi , Rosie Huntington Whitley, Micheal Portillo, Courtney Love, Whitney Huston, Matt Lucas (little Brittan)
Sharkey has been a full-time artist since 1972. He was described by Irelands Sunday Independent as "A True Irish Legend"And by Sky news as "Pure Genius" he was also recently called "Most intriuging person 2010 by Cnn America
He has had exhibitions in Dublin, London, Ibiza, Amsterdam and New York. In 2007 his What Colour Are Kisses? exhibition sold out completely within 48 hours. He has had gallery shows solely dedicated to his work in Dublin, Donegal, Mayo, Boyle, Ibiza and London's Mayfair. His painting Roisin raised 26,100 euro in 2008 for People in Need in the RTÉ Telethon. His work has included, Samantha Mumba's bust and 'Moolah' (a life sized cow covered in 50,000 euro of real banknotes – during the height of Ireland's Celtic Tiger phenomenon).
More currently, his Public Enemy Number One exhibition was on a twelve date tour of the world (including New York, Tokyo, Rome and Rio de Janeiro). The exhibition features amongst others Jordan as Myra Hindley, Barack Obama wearing Ku Klux Klan robes (made from U.S. flags), the Pope marrying a gay couple, and Angelina Jolie & Madonna passing each other in a supermarket aisle pushing trolleys full of multi-racial children.
Sharkey is also an interior designer of commercial and domestic interiors in Ireland, the UK, the US and Spain. One of his design projects featured in RTÉ's Celebrity Showhouse.