Shay Cunningham - Contemporary Artist

Shay Cunningham is a successful professional, self-taught Calligrapher and Painter.
Shay works in Batik, inks and acrylics on fabric and in mixed media. Shay has exhibited in
Dublin, Bantry, Skibbereen and Kinsale. His artworks can be found in private collections
in the U.S.A., Italy, Germany, Switzerland and in the United Kingdom. Shay also teaches
Calligraphy. He lives and works West Cork and will undertake commissions.
"Surround your self with people
who respect and treat you well"
Shay kindly came to visit me on Benduff the other day and with a cup of coffee chatted
openly about himself and his artwork. He began by saying that he has an interest in
"quotations". In the past Shay suffered with depression, and every now and then he would
read something, just a little sentence somewhere, "it would lift him right up". He began to
collect quotations and this took him on a journey from which he has produced a series of
artwork that is unique, colourful and inspiring.

Title: Patience Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Shay weaves the letters onto the canvas with colour and shape, so they are a map to the
wisdom that the word contains. As`Shay says "like a secret, a treasure to be uncovered, a hidden
jewel". He feels that after discovering the word or saying, you may even forget the hidden meaning,
and have to rediscover it.

Title: I Shut My Eyes... Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
In the painting "I Shut my Eyes in Order to See" a quotation from Paul Gauguin, Shay found these
words poignant because, as a child he was told to "open his eyes in order to see". But in this
quotation, Gauguin is saying "I shut my eyes in order to see". Shay finds that the shapes
that follow the letters are also very interesting, there are patterns which reveal themselves to
the viewer.
He tends to use small canvases as these are easy to hang in modern homes and will brighten and
enhance any room, with colour and hidden words of wisdom. Shay has a series of paintings on the
topic of LOVE in which he uses key words which denote, in his opinion, the qualities of
Love ie: Trust, Respect, Forgiveness, Compassion and Acceptance.
Another series of paintings which Shay has been working on is based on the word MOTHER
there are over 15 paintings in this series.
If you would like to make contact with Shay Cunningham, please do so via the Virtu - Art
email provided. We will contact Shay and pass on your details.
Looking to Buy Artwork by Shay Cunningham? - Prices on application - email Virtu - Art
with your enquiry.

Title: Love Size: 25 x 35 cms Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Title: Compassion Size: 46 x 35 cms Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Title: Forgiveness Size: 45 x 34 cms Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Links to view other Artwork by Shay Cunningham follow the links


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