Frank O’ Meara

Frank O’ Meara was born on 30th March 1853. The son of a doctor who taught zoology here at Carlow College. He grew up in the family home at 37 Dublin Street, Carlow and was educated at Carlow College. Early sketch books contain landscape images from around County Carlow. A strong interest in art emerged and in the 1870’s he to Paris to study. He enrolled in the Académie Julian and possibly attended the École de Beaux Arts, later entering the atelier of Carolos-Duran. Paris was a ferment of revolutionary change in the context of painting, with the first impressionist exhibition being held in 1874. Carolos-Duran was a friend of Manet and a popular portrait painter. In 1875 O’Meara moved to Grez-Sur Loing where an artist colony had established itself with many English and American artists. ‘O Meara eventually based himself here for thirteen years. Records show that O’ Meara exhibited regularly including the important Paris Salon in 1879 & 1882, Royal Hibernian Academy, 1789, Royal Glasgow Institute, 1884, Liverpool Autumn Exhibition, 1883, Guildhall 1904. His work is held in many public collections including Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane and the Ulster Museum, Belfast. Unfortunately O’ Meara died young from malaria in 1888 at the age of 35. He is buried outside Carlow town at Bennekerry graveyard.

Frank O’ Meara drawings series were presented as part of Éigse in 1994.

Art collection

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Origins

Set up in 1992, The Carlow Art Collection is a voluntary community initiative that has been surrounded by goodwill and generosity from the people of Carlow. It has expanded into a diverse collection of work with artists from around the world. CAC became a fully registered charity in 2018. The home of our art collection is in Carlow College. The Carlow Art Collection is free to view in the front halls of Carlow College, Monday to Friday, and in the garden every day of the year.

Today

The art works in the permanent collection include painting, print, drawing, sculpture, sound, photography, live art, film and activism, with more to come. The collection and CAC projects reflect a broad range of art by over thirty artists, many of whom visited, exhibited, engaged with or lived in the area.

Our Goal

The CAC is deeply indebted to the artists who contribute to the collection, to its board members past and present, and to the many people and organisations that support it technically and financially. The Carlow Art Collection will continue to expand on the ideas of what art is and what an art collection can be, and become.