Nano Reid
Encyclopedia
Nano Reid was an Irish
painter.
landscape artist, figure painter and portraitist Nano Reid was born in Drogheda
, County Louth
in 1905. In 1920, she won a scholarship to study fine art painting and drawing at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art - now the National College of Art and Design
- under Harry Clarke
. At the time, she was - in the words of fellow student Hilda van Stockum
- "a fierce redhead... uncompromising and looking for truth". In 1925 she started showing at the Royal Hibernian Academy
(RHA), submitting a total of 42 canvases until the late 1960s. In 1928, she went to Paris and enrolled briefly at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière
, after which she spent a year in London studying fine art at the Central School of Arts and Crafts under Bernard Meninsky
.
She returned to Ireland in 1931 and once more began exhibiting her landscape painting at the RHA.
In March 1950, the painter Patrick Swift
(Reid painted Swift's portrait that year), wrote a praising article on Nano Reid for the arts magazine Envoy
, in which he said: "one can say, without pretension, that she has her place in European painting." In 1950, with Norah McGuinness
, Nano Reid represented Ireland at the Venice Biennale
. This was followed by the Exhibition of Contemporary Irish Art in Aberystwyth
(1953), and the Mostra Internazionale di Bianco e Nero in Lugano (1956), the Guggenheim International Award Exhibition in New York (1960) and the Twelve Irish Painters show in New York (1963).
In 1974, the Arts Council and the Northern Ireland Arts Council staged a major retrospective of Nano Reid's artworks. She died in Drogheda in 1981.Retrospectives for Nano Reid were held at Taylor Galleries in Dublin (1984), Droichead Arts Centre in Drogheda (1991), and at Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar, County Mayo (1999).
An individual, expressionistic artist, Nano Reid is acknowledged to be one of the finest Irish woman painters of twentieth-century visual art in Ireland. Her works are represented in many public collections throughout Ireland.
In 1950, with Nora McGuiness, Nano Reid represented Ireland at the Venice Biennale. This was followed by the Exhibition of Contemporary Irish Art in Aberystwyth (1953), and the Mostra Internazionale di Bianco e Nero in Lugano (1956), the Guggenheim International Award Exhibition in New York (1960) and the Twelve Irish Painters show in New York (1963). On the home front, Reid exhibited in Belfast and several times at the Dawson Gallery in Dublin. At the end of the 1960s she showed at the Hugh Lane Art Gallery. In 1972, she won the Douglas Hyde Gold Medal at the Oireachtas for the best history painting - Cave of the Firbolg. In 1974, the Arts Council and the Northern Ireland Arts Council staged a major retrospective of Nano Reid's artworks.
Model Niland, Sligo, Ireland (www.modelart.ie)
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
painter.
Biography
The IrishIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
landscape artist, figure painter and portraitist Nano Reid was born in Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
, County Louth
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
in 1905. In 1920, she won a scholarship to study fine art painting and drawing at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art - now the National College of Art and Design
National College of Art and Design
The National College of Art and Design is a national art and design school in Dublin, Ireland.-History:Situated on Thomas Street, the NCAD started as a private drawing school and has become a national institution educating over 1,500 day and evening students as artists, designers and art educators...
- under Harry Clarke
Harry Clarke
Harry Clarke was an Irish stained glass artist and book illustrator. Born in Dublin, he was a leading figure in the Irish Arts and Crafts Movement.- History :...
. At the time, she was - in the words of fellow student Hilda van Stockum
Hilda van Stockum
Hilda Gerarda van Stockum was a children's book author and artist. She was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Her father was an officer in the Dutch Royal Navy. She grew up in the Netherlands and Ireland, living for many years in the United States, and lived in England from about 1973...
- "a fierce redhead... uncompromising and looking for truth". In 1925 she started showing at the Royal Hibernian Academy
Royal Hibernian Academy
The Royal Hibernian Academy is an artist-based and artist-oriented institution in Ireland, founded in Dublin in 1823.-History:The RHA was founded as the result of 30 Irish artists petitioning the government for a charter of incorporation...
(RHA), submitting a total of 42 canvases until the late 1960s. In 1928, she went to Paris and enrolled briefly at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière
Académie de la Grande Chaumière
The Académie de la Grande Chaumière is an art school in the VIe arrondissement of Paris, France. The school was founded in 1902 by the Swiss Martha Stettler , who refused to teach the strict academic rules of painting of the École des Beaux-Arts. It opened the way to the "Art Indépendant"...
, after which she spent a year in London studying fine art at the Central School of Arts and Crafts under Bernard Meninsky
Bernard Meninsky
Bernard Meninsky was a figurative artist, painter of figures and landscape in oils, watercolour and gouache, draughtsman and teacher. He was born in Karotopin now in the Ukraine but raised in Liverpool where he attended the Liverpool School of Art in 1906 after initially attending evening classes...
.
She returned to Ireland in 1931 and once more began exhibiting her landscape painting at the RHA.
In March 1950, the painter Patrick Swift
Patrick Swift
Patrick Swift was an artist born in Dublin, Ireland. Patrick Swift was a painter and key cultural figure in Dublin and London before moving to the Algarve in southern Portugal, where he is buried in the town of Porches...
(Reid painted Swift's portrait that year), wrote a praising article on Nano Reid for the arts magazine Envoy
Envoy, A Review of Literature and Art
December 1949- July 1951. Dublin, Ireland. Editor & Founder: John RyanDuring its brief existence, Envoy, A Review of Literature and Art, published the work of a broad range of writers, Irish and others. The first to publish J. P...
, in which he said: "one can say, without pretension, that she has her place in European painting." In 1950, with Norah McGuinness
Norah McGuinness
Norah McGuinness was an Irish painter and illustrator.Norah McGuinness trained at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art and at Chelsea Polytechnic in London before spending the 1920s working in Dublin as a book illustrator and stage designer...
, Nano Reid represented Ireland at the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
. This was followed by the Exhibition of Contemporary Irish Art in Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
(1953), and the Mostra Internazionale di Bianco e Nero in Lugano (1956), the Guggenheim International Award Exhibition in New York (1960) and the Twelve Irish Painters show in New York (1963).
In 1974, the Arts Council and the Northern Ireland Arts Council staged a major retrospective of Nano Reid's artworks. She died in Drogheda in 1981.Retrospectives for Nano Reid were held at Taylor Galleries in Dublin (1984), Droichead Arts Centre in Drogheda (1991), and at Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar, County Mayo (1999).
An individual, expressionistic artist, Nano Reid is acknowledged to be one of the finest Irish woman painters of twentieth-century visual art in Ireland. Her works are represented in many public collections throughout Ireland.
Exhibitions
Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA), submitting a total of 42 canvases from 1925-late 1960s.Engineer's Hall (1931) with artists Marion King and Olive Cunningham; a solo exhibition at St Stephen's Green Gallery (1934); a solo show at the Daniel Egan Gallery, Dublin (1936), which was repeated in Drogheda; the Water Colour Society of Ireland (1939). Reid was also involved in portrait art, having her works displayed at the Irish Drawings and Paintings Exhibition in New York (1938), and at the Dublin Painters Exhibition (1939) in Dublin. She continued to show her artworks throughout the 1940s, adding the Oireachtas, Dawson Gallery and Victor Waddington Galleries to her list of venues. During this time, Nano Reid also exhibited her paintings in London: at the Living Irish Art Exhibition at the Leicester Galleries (1946), St George's Gallery (1950), Hanover Gallery (1952).In 1950, with Nora McGuiness, Nano Reid represented Ireland at the Venice Biennale. This was followed by the Exhibition of Contemporary Irish Art in Aberystwyth (1953), and the Mostra Internazionale di Bianco e Nero in Lugano (1956), the Guggenheim International Award Exhibition in New York (1960) and the Twelve Irish Painters show in New York (1963). On the home front, Reid exhibited in Belfast and several times at the Dawson Gallery in Dublin. At the end of the 1960s she showed at the Hugh Lane Art Gallery. In 1972, she won the Douglas Hyde Gold Medal at the Oireachtas for the best history painting - Cave of the Firbolg. In 1974, the Arts Council and the Northern Ireland Arts Council staged a major retrospective of Nano Reid's artworks.
Work in collections
- Crawford Art Gallery, Cork
- Highlanes GalleryHighlanes GalleryHighlanes Gallery is a public art gallery and visual arts exhibition centre in Drogheda, Ireland.The gallery opened its doors on October 4th 2006 and was the culmination of many years planning to deliver a dedicated visual arts space for the Irish north east region, of an International standard in...
, Drogheda - Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin
- Trinity College Dublin
- The Arts Council of IrelandArts Council of IrelandThe Arts Council of Ireland was founded in 1951 by the Government of Ireland to encourage interest in Irish art and channel to funding from the state to Irish artists and arts organisations...
including - Santa Barbara Museum California
- Irish Institute, New York
Model Niland, Sligo, Ireland (www.modelart.ie)