Sean Scully b. 1946

The genesis of Scully's Wall of Light series occurred in 1983, when he was in Mexico visiting the ancient architectural ruins of the remote Yucatan area and he became interested in the effects of light hitting the area's crumbling stone surfaces. He subsequently produced a matrix of horizontal and vertical stripes in the manner of a patchwork quilt, or a dry-stone wall, enlivened by a complex system of over-painting that gives to each bar a compelling tonal and chromatic intensity that is at odds with the highly structured, grid-like composition.

Born in Dublin, Scully grew up in London and now divides his time between New York, Barcelona and Munich. His work from the 1970s show a cool minimalism that gradually transformed into a looser, more painterly style in the 80s. Scully has exhibited extensively internationally and was commended for the Turner Prize in 1989 and nominated again in 1993.  His recent gift of seven paintings to mark the re-opening of the Dublin City Gallery The Hugh was unveiled to great acclaim.