______BIOGRAPHY
Niall Naessens. Born Dublin 1961.
Naessens graduated from the National College of Art and Design in 1983. He returned to NCAD and graduated in MFA Fine Art Print in 2013 as a mature student.
Naessens is a master printmaker with a long history with the Graphic Studio Dublin where he learned the art of printmaking and established a fine art career. He worked there as a professional printmaker for the Visiting Artist Scheme. He had major involvement in initiating and producing Art into Art at the National Gallery of Ireland 1998, Holy Show at the Chester Beatty library 2002 and The Cracked Lookingglass for ReJoyce Bloomsday 100 at Graphic Studio Gallery and the Old Print Shop, New York. He was a studio director 1999/2005.
He moved to Brandon in West Kerry in 2004. In 2007 he set up Cló Cill Rialaig fa print workshop or the Cill Rialaig Project in Ballinskelligs, Kerry which he managed for two years. He built his own studio at Lios na Caolbhaí in 2008.
Although principally known as an etcher he also makes drawings, paintings and digital works. His work is commentary on aspects of an artist contemplating landscape.
He has had 26 solo shows In Ireland and abroad most notably Good Morning Mister Turner at the National Gallery of Ireland, 2018, a response to the Henry Vaughan J.M.W. Turner watercolours.
In 2020 Naessens was elected a member the Royal Society of Painter Printmakers in London. At the 2022 members show at their Bankside Gallery in London he was awarded the Aberystwyth University Art Museum Tessa Sidey Purchase Prize and the Mike Brennan Award.
He is at present working towards a show at the Ashford Gallery, Royal Hibernian Academy October 2025 and Graphic Studio Gallery in 2026.
______EDUCATION
| 1978-1983 | Diploma in Visual Communications | National College of Art and Design |
| 2011-2013 | MFA fine Art Print | National College of Art and Design |
______SOLO EXHIBITIONS
| 2024 | Áiteanna Iargúlta | Greenlane Gallery, Dingle, County Kerry |
| 2023 | Ar Imeall an Iontais | An Gailearaí Gaoth Dobhair |
| The Last Man in Europe | Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin | |
| The Edge of Marvellous | Grisle Gallery, Kilorglin, Co. Kerry | |
| 2021 | The Wanderer | S.O. Fine Art Editions, Dublin |
| 2019 | Draw | An Diseart, Dingle, Co. Kerry |
| 2018 | Good Morning Mister Turner Niall Naessens and J.M.W.Turner | National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin |
| Good Morning Mister Turner | Siamsa Tire, Tralee, Co. Kerry | |
| 2015 | L 12121 Picture Panoply | Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin |
| L 12121 Picture Panoply | Stiuideo Lios na Caolbhaí, Brandon, Co. Kerry | |
| Neighbour in the Printroom | Cork Printmakers, Cork | |
| 2012 | Eyeful of Sky | Siamsa Tire, Tralee, Co. Kerry |
| Distant World | Bildtse Aardappel Weken, Het Bildt, Holland | |
| 2011 | Etchings | An Lab, Dingle, Co. Kerry |
| An Irish Etcher | The Ink Shop, Itheca, New York, USA | |
| 2010 | Landmarks | Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin |
| 2008 | Vico | Dalkey Arts, Dublin |
| Paintings & Etchings | Hamilton Gallery, Sligo | |
| 2007 | Brandon Etchings | Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin |
| Brandon Etchings | Art Upstairs, Wexford | |
| Brandon Etchings | Wellspring Gallery, Tralee, Co. Kerry | |
| Cé Bhréanainn | Old Town Hall, Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA | |
| 2005 | South Westerlies | Paul Kane Gallery, Dublin |
| 2006 | Laistíos den Chnoc | An Diseart, Dingle, Co. Kerry |
| Painting in Kerry | Millcove, Sheen Falls Hotel, Kenmare, Co. Kerry | |
| 2003 | 10 Prints Niall Naessens | Factory Performance, Sligo |
______TWO AND THREE PERSON EXHIBITIONS
| 2016 | Song Lineswith Daniel Lipstein | Hamilton Gallery, Sligo |
| Song Lineswith Daniel Lipstein | Custom House Gallery, Westport | |
| 2011 | Two Person Show | Greenlane Gallery, Dingle, Co. Kerry |
| 2002 | Two Person Show | Kilcock Art Gallery, Kilcock |
| 2000 | Two Person Show | Paul Kane Gallery, Dublin |
| 1999 | Two Person Show | Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin |
| Two Person Show | Watch House Gallery, Enniscorthy, Wexford | |
| 1995 | Three Printmakers | Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin |
| Landscapes (3 Artists) | Wellspring Gallery, Tralee, Co. Kerry | |
| Three Printmakers | Droichead Gallery, Drogheda Co. Louth |
______SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
| 2025 | KAN Kerry Art Now | Goverment Offices, Killarney |
| MÓR | Graphic Studio, Dublin | |
| Leaning on the Line | Graphic Studio, Dublin | |
| Kwaidan | Ireland at EXPO, Tokyo Farmleigh House, Dublin | |
| 2024 | Kwaidan | Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan Mayo, Limerick and Waterford |
| RE Members | Bankside Gallery, London | |
| MÓR | Graphic Studio, Dublin | |
| Between Islands | Glasgow Printmakers Gallery, Scotland | |
| Woolwich Print Fair | Fireworks Factory Royal Arsenal, London | |
| Boyle Arts Festival | King House, Boyle, Co. Roscomomon | |
| 2023 | RHA 200 | Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin |
| Kwaidan Encounters with Lafcadio Hearn | Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum Matsue, Shimane, Japan | |
| XI Print Bienal Douro | Museo Do Douro, Portugal | |
| RE Members Show | Bankside Gallery, London | |
| Winter Group | Grisle Gallery, Kilorglin, Co. Kerry | |
| MÓR | Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin | |
| First Impressions | Blue House Gallery, Skull | |
| Decennium | SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin | |
| 2022 | Boyle Festival | Boyle, Co. Roscommon |
| RE Members | Bankside Gallery, London | |
| RHA Annual | Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin | |
| RHA Annual | Ulster Museum, Belfast | |
| Expanded | Graphic Studio, Dublin | |
| International Original Print Fair | Bankside Gallery, London | |
| MÓR | Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin | |
| Dath an Dochais | Travelling Gaeltacht Venues | |
| 2021 | Dath an Dochais | An Gailearaí, Gaoth Dobhair + Gaeltacht tour |
| RE Members Show | Bankside Gallery, London | |
| RHA Annual | Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin | |
| 2020 | Grafik Fråu Irland | Galerie Helle Kunden, Stockholm, Sweden |
| Diamond Point | Graphic Studio, Dublin | |
| The Human Heart | Graphic Studio, Dublin | |
| Summer Show | S.O. Fine Art Editions, Dublin | |
| RHA Annual | Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin | |
| 2019 | GSD summer show | Graphic Studio, Dublin |
| RHA Annual | Royal Hibernian Academy | |
| Boyle Arts Festival | Boyle, Co. Roscommon | |
| 2018 | Duoro Print Biennial | Duoro, Portugal |
| Boyle Arts Festival | Boyle, Co. Roscommon | |
| GSD summer show | Graphic Studio, Dublin | |
| 2016 | Duoro Print Biennial | Duoro, Portugal |
| 25, Cork Printmakers 25 Years | The Atrium, Cork City Hall | |
| RHA Annual Exhibition | Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin | |
| 2015 | RHA Annual Exhibition | Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin |
| Impressions | CCAM GMIT, Galway | |
| A lonely Impulse of Delight | S.O. Fine Art, Dublin | |
| 2 Global Print 2015 | Douro, Portugal | |
| 2014 | RHA Annual Exhibition | Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin |
| 2013 | NCAD MFA Show | Moxie, Dublin |
| Landmarks | Blue Egg Gallery, Wexford | |
| 2012 | MFA Show | IMOCA, Dublin |
| Plata Te | Greenlane Gallery, Dingle | |
| Limerick Printmakers | Kruezberg Printmaking Centre, Berlin | |
| 2011 | RA Summer Exhibition | Royal Academy, London |
| RHA Annual Exhibition | Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin | |
| 2010 | RHA Annual Exhibition | Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin |
| 2009 | Artists Proof | Chester Beatty Library |
| Print Show | Himmelblau Gallery, Tampere, Finland | |
| RHA Annual Exhibition | Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin | |
| 2008 | Eigsé Festival | Carlow |
| Group Show | The Blackbird Gallery, Kilkenny | |
| GSD @ Kenny’s | Kenny’s Art Gallery, Galway | |
| Feile na Bealtaine | Dingle, Co. Kerry | |
| 2007 | Heal 2007 | The Naughton Gallery, Queens, Belfast |
| Eigsé Festival | Carlow | |
| RHA Annual Exhibition | Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin | |
| Port Print | Dublin Port and Graphic Studio, Dublin | |
| 2006 | What is a Print | National Gallery of Ireland |
| Of Place & Time | Lavitt Gallery, Cork | |
| London Original Print Fair | Royal Academy, London | |
| RHA Annual Exhibition | Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin | |
| Feile na Bealtaine | Dingle, Co. Kerry | |
| 2005 | Garden of Earthly Delights | Chester Beatty Library, Dublin |
| London Original Print Fair | Royal Academy, London | |
| The Cracked Looking Glass | Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin | |
| 2004 | London Original Print Fair | Royal Academy, London |
| RHA Annual Exhibition | Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin | |
| Springboard | Davis Gallery, Dublin | |
| 2003 | New Works | Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin |
| Oireachtais Exhibition | Dublin | |
| Limited Editions | Frank Lewis Gallery, Killarney | |
| Every Blooming Thing | National Botanic Gardens, Dublin | |
| London Original Print Fair | Royal Academy, London | |
| RHA Annual Exhibition | Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin | |
| 2002 | Holy Show | Chester Beatty Library, Dublin |
| On Board | Sligo Art Gallery, Sligo | |
| Iontas Prize-winners Show | Sligo Art Gallery, Sligo | |
| Oireachtais Exhibition | Dublin | |
| London Original Print Fair | Royal Academy, London | |
| RHA Annual Exhibition | Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin | |
| Graphic Studio Prints | Nordens Lus, Stockholm, Sweden | |
| 2001 | Ireland/France Print Exchange | Paris, France |
| Small Works | Paul Kane Gallery, Dublin | |
| Oireachtais Exhibition | Dublin | |
| London Original Print Fair | Royal Academy, London | |
| RHA Annual Exhibition | Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin | |
| Graphic Studio Prints | Kunst Forum, Norskoping, Sweden | |
| 2000 | 4th Triennale Mondial d’Estampes. | Chamalieres, France |
| London Original Print Fair | Royal Academy, London | |
| RHA Annual Exhibition | Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin | |
| Irish Print Exhibition | Kelowna and Okanogan, Canada | |
| Graphic Studio Prints | Chris Doswell Gallery, Limerick | |
| 1999 | Galleri Astley | Skinsratterberg, Sweden |
| London Original Print Fair | Royal Academy, London | |
| 1998 | Art into Art | National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin |
| International Print Exhibit | Stockholm, Sweden | |
| Five Printmakers | Frank Lewis Gallery, Killarney | |
| 1997 | 3rd Triennale Mondial d’Estampes. | Chamalieres, France |
| Out of Ireland | Kennesaw State University, Georgia, USA | |
| London Original Print Fair | Royal Academy, London | |
| 1996 | Irish Prints | Yellow Gallery Chicago, USA |
| Print Show | Wellspring Gallery, Kerry | |
| Guest Printmaker | Rubicon Gallery, Dublin | |
| 1995 | Irish Landscapes | Frank Lewis Gallery, Kenmare, Kerry |
| Ljubljana Print Biennale | Ljubljana, Slovenia | |
| 1994 | Irish Prints | Bluecoat Gallery, Liverpool |
| RHA Annual Exhibition | Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin | |
| 1993 | RHA Annual Exhibition | Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin |
| Iontas Small Works | Sligo Art Gallery, Sligo | |
| 1992 | Group Show | Pantheon Gallery, Dublin |
______COLLECTIONS
| National Gallery of Ireland | Dublin City University |
| Bank of Ireland | Office of Public Works |
| Chester Beatty Library | William Fry & Company |
| St. Vincent’s University Hospital | Shelbourne Hotel |
| Beaumont Hospital | ABN Amro Bank |
| Allied Irish Bank | Contemporary Art Society of Ireland |
| Hilton Hotel, Kilmainham | Irish Embassy, Beijing |
| Irish Embassy, Tanzania | George McClelland |
| Global Crossing | Jury’s Hotel Group |
| Mason Hayes and Curran | Radisson Hotel SAS |
| Matter Private Hospital | Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, UK |
| Northern Bank | Aberystwyth University Gallery Museum |
| Duoro Museum, Portugal |
______COMMISSIONS
| Department of Foreign Affairs | Ballyroe Hotel, Tralee, Co. Kerry |
| Dublin Port Company | Graphic Studio, Dublin |
| University College Dublin | UCD Club, St. Stephen’s Green |
______CONTACT
| Address: | Stiúideo Lios na Caolbhaí, Brandon, Tralee, Co. Kerry V92 CA29 |
| Email: | niall.naessens@gmail.com |
| Website: | www.niallnaessens.com |
| Instagram: | instagram@niall.naessens |
| Mobile: | +353 (0)87 2181727 |