RUBEN IRELAND is an illustrator of strength. There is strength in the jaw-lines of his portraits, in the graphic execution of the finished product and the colours which jump out from the work. In-between the red-raw hands stroking outwards of ‘Paint or Die Trying’ and the half-man/half-ram creations of ‘Amalgamations’ sits a world of dark fairy-tales.
These are portraits which stare out stoically awaiting the judgement of the viewer. Girls tend to birds with eyes covered or stare face-to-face with horned, blacked out animals. There is no room for cowardice or worry; there is an acceptance and silent acknowledgement of unspoken understanding between beast, human and viewer. Enter the world of darkened reality and séance-like peace…
Jade French - As You Are Magazine
CLIENTS
HARPER COLLINS // HACHETTE CHILDRENS BOOKS // CONDE NASTE PUBLICATIONS // UNIVERSAL MUSIC // SUZANNE FARRIN - NEW FOCUS RECORDINGS // GREENFIELD MEDIA // ILLUSTRATION RALLY // SHARPSHIRTER // ARDENTEES // LOTUS TROJAN // PAPER DARTS PUBLISHING // SOYU // SOCIETY6 // PRIVAT AIR UK // A FUTURE WITHOUT // STYLE NEEDS NO COLOUR // ALGONQUIN BOOKS //
EXHIBITIONS
'HYPERDUSK' SOLO SHOW, ATOMICA GALLERY SOHO, LONDON, JUN 2015
'OUT OF BODY' (CURATOR + EXHIBITOR) GAUNTLET GALLERY SF, APR 2014
‘PIXEL PORTRAIT’ STRYCHNIN GALLERY BERLIN, NOV 2013
‘MUSIC SOUNDS BETTER WITH YOU’ GAUNTLET GALLERY SF, OCT 2013
‘DAFT PUNK’ GAUNTLET GALLERY SF, MAY 2013
‘MASH UP’ GAUNTLET GALLERY SF, JAN 2013
‘PRINT ISN’T DEAD’ WWA GALLERY, DEC 2012
‘MILK’ FINE GRIME GALLERY, BATH UK, NOV 2012
‘HELLOHEAD’ CARGO LONDON, AUG 2012
‘SWAB BARCELONA’ MAY 2012
‘BAD DADS’ SPOKE ART SF, OCT 2011
‘RAW5’ RAW SALFORD, SEP 2011
‘GUILTY PLEASURES & MODERN VICES’ LONDON MILES GALLERY, JUN 2011
‘LITERAL EYES’ LONDON MILES GALLERY, MAY 2011
‘SUPERHEROES’ D-STRUCTURE SF & SOCIETY6, MAY 2011
‘ARDTXFLASHGIB’ STROKE ART FAIR MUNICH, MAY 2011
‘ARDTXFLASHGIB’ FORMAGANDA BERLIN, MAY 2011