Ross Stewart is an Irish artist working in painting, illustration and animation, notably conceptual design and art direction. Ross is currently directing ‘Wolfwalkers’ with Tomm Moore in Cartoon Saloon, due to be released in 2020.
He has recently been involved in 3 Oscar nominated feature films; as Art Director on ‘The Secret of Kells‘ (2009), Visual Development and Conceptual artist on ‘ParaNorman‘ (2013), Concept Artist on ‘Song of the Sea‘ (2015) and has worked on many other award winning animated short films, in an art directing, background producing, conceptual or directing role. Most recently he was Co-Director with Tomm Moore on an animated segment ‘On Love’ for the feature film ‘The Prophet‘(2015).
His personal artwork is semi abstract; based on drawn studies but organically developed, focussing on the atmosphere and mood of the piece, rather than the representational form. His highly textured mixed media paintings suggest wide expanses of bog or moor, solitary trees or natural forms with vivid, intricate details submerged under glazes of earthy colours. Ross Stewart has exhibited across Ireland and the UK over the last 16 years and his work is held in public and private collections internationally.
‘Return to Archaic Form’,
Bank of Ireland Arts Centre. April 2005
‘Constuction Continued’
Excel Gallery, Tipperary. October 2004
‘Construction on the Horizon’
Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny. August 2004
‘Footsteps’
Rothe House, Kilkenny. August 2002
New Paintings
Frameworks Gallery, Kilkenny. August 2000
Previous Group Exhibitions
2015
Royal Hibernian Academy open exhibition, Dublin
Case’15, Lavit Gallery
Origin Gallery end of year exhibition, Origin Gallery, Dublin
Cill Rialaig Arts Centre summer show, Cill Rialaig, Kerry
2011
‘Form A Line’, exhibition with Andew Ludick for Kilkenny Arts Festival, Castle Yard studio, Design Centre, Kilkenny
‘Drawing the Line’, Urban Retreat Gallery, Dublin
Cill Rialaig Group show, Ballinskelligs
2010
Clancy Brothers Cultural Legacy exhibition, Dungarvan
2009
Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition
Case’09, The Lavit Gallery, Cork
Tipperary Arts Centre, Clonmel
Estate Yard ’09, Design Centre & Castlecomer Estate Yard
William Street Gallery, Kilkenny
The Powerscourt Gallery, Dublin
Joan Clancy Gallery, Waterford
The Battletown Gallery, Newtownards
Russell Gallery, Co Clare
2008
Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition
Butler House, Kilkenny
Estate Yard ’08, Castlecomer Estate Yard
2 -3 James Street, Kilkenny
Mermaid Greenstar Open submission, Bray
Éigse open submission, Carlow
Joan Clancy Gallery, Waterford
The Battletown Gallery, Newtownards
Artforms Gallery, Carlow
Russell Gallery, Co Clare
2007
Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray
Hazel Williams Gallery, Kilkenny
The Battletown Gallery, Newtownards
Castlecomer Estate Yard, Co. Kilkenny
Art Dublin 2007, BT2, Dublin
2006
The Battletown Gallery, Newtownards
The Blackbird Gallery, Kilkenny
Schull Gallery, Co. Cork
2005
Lavit Gallery, Cork
Kilkenny Art Gallery, Kilkenny
‘Seomra 5’, Castle Yard, Kilkenny
Art Exposure, Glasgow
‘Eigse’ open submission, Carlow
2004
Wicklow County Buildings, Wicklow
2003
‘Living Arts Festival’, Kilkenny
‘Unseen Voices’ Tig Fili, Cork
‘Seomra4’ Upstairs Gallery, 93, High st., Kilkenny
2002
‘Five Years On’ County Hall, Kilkenny
‘Seomra4’ Vicar st., Kilkenny
1999
Upstairs Gallery, 93, High st., Kilkenny
Public Collections
Bank of Ireland National Collection
Clare House, Belfast
The Kilkenny Design Centre
Residencies
Cill Ríalaig, Ballinskelligs. Apr ’12
Cill Ríalaig, Ballinskelligs. Mar ’10
Cill Ríalaig, Ballinskelligs. Oct ’07
Artist’s Statement
“I am an Irish visual artist working from Kilkenny and produce paintings inspired by gestural landscapes, anatomical studies and animated background compositions. These mixtures are imbued with a a contrast of calm and chaos, the energy of exploration and the light and atmosphere of imagined places. I have always been inspired by the beauty of the Irish landscape and tried to capture the subtle atmosphere, light and moods of the land. I use limited palettes, natural hues, high contrast focal points against subtle gradients, anything I can to help convey the emotion of the place. Using this as the starting point of the piece, I allow it to develop into something more than a landscape painting. The painting can become a mix of abstract shapes and symbols, perhaps interspersed with small sketches or printed shapes, developing organically toward an amalgam of real and flat space. My art is always about hidden items and layers covering layers. It is about balance of opposites; calm versus chaos, light against dark, colour amid greys; how the shapes within the frame can play with emphasis, tension, symmetry and balance. I am constantly exploring the varieties of textures available through the mixing of oils, acrylics, charcoal, thread and other media and using these to enhance the energy and mood of the work.. I would like to think of the finished piece conveying that energy – the energy of exploration, of the creative process, of hiding and revealing precious elements and layers, of working to achieve that ultimate balance or tension.”
