DUBLIN.- Richard Gorman, a leading figure in contemporary Irish abstraction, has died at the age of 79. His passing marks the loss of an artist admired for his integrity, intelligence and quiet grace, and for a body of work that shaped Irish visual culture over more than four decades.

Born in Dublin in 1946, Gorman initially studied business at Trinity College Dublin before turning decisively toward art. He graduated from the Dún Laoghaire School of Art and Design in 1980, the same year his work made an immediate impact at the Irish Exhibition of Living Art. Further recognition followed in 1981, and in 1983 he held a solo exhibition at the Project Gallery in Dublin, confirming his emergence as a distinctive new voice.

Gorman’s career unfolded internationally, shaped by long periods of travel and work between Ireland, Italy and Japan. His practice remained steadfastly committed to abstraction, grounded in close observation of landscape, architecture and the everyday rhythms of place. Across painting, sculpture and printmaking, his work is noted for its clarity, restraint and meticulous craftsmanship, as well as a refined sensitivity to colour, structure and balance.

In 2023, after more than 40 years of exhibiting worldwide, Hugh Lane Gallery presented Living through paint(ing), a major exhibition of recent work. The show was widely seen as both a survey and a celebration of Gorman’s distinctive artistic language and enduring relevance.

Beyond his own studio practice, Gorman was known as a generous and engaged presence within the art community. He was deeply supportive of fellow artists through teaching, mentorship and friendship, and was valued for his curiosity, warmth and sharp sense of humour. A cornerstone of Kerlin Gallery for many years, he was also a close and cherished friend to many who worked alongside him.