County Down artist Kevin McAleenan was commissioned by Jack McGarry, co-founder of The Dead Rabbit in New York, to create two large paintings with a deeply personal connection to Jack—his native city, Belfast.
“I knew the role that contemporary Irish art and design had played in The Dead Rabbit’s success, so I was delighted to get the call from Jack.”
After research trips, sketches, and four months of intricate work, Kevin brought two special views to life: a sweeping, detailed depiction of Belfast’s streets rising into the warm embrace of Black Mountain, and a vibrant, bustling scene of Belfast’s City Hall.
Both works hang proudly in The Dead Rabbit, Austin. “It was a treat working with Kevin, and the paintings bring our guests a little closer to home with every brushstroke.”
Kevin graduated in 1985 with a BA (Hons) in Art and Design from Ulster University. His work can be found in the collections of the Office of Public Works Dublin, The Open University, Queen’s University Belfast, and in private collections across Europe, the Far East, and the United States.
If you would like to know more about Kevin and his work check out his Instagram page