Today we’d like to introduce you to John Gallagher.
John, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My journey began in Ireland. I was born in Drogheda, a beautiful town nestled in the Boyne Valley. After leaving high school, I emigrated to Boston. I knew nobody here. Seeing the states had been a long held dream for me. I arrived on a snowy Wednesday night in January. I had no skills to market and work was initially hard to come by. My first income in America was for taking part in a marketing survey in an office in Fanueil Hall, where I was required to test whiskey for an hour! After that, I worked every job imaginable from roofing to waiting tables; carpentry to bartending. It was a tough beginning but I loved every second of it. After years of odd jobs, I moved into advertising. I loved the creative challenge the work provided. I had a talent for brand strategy and at one point, was creative lead for some of the worlds leading brands.
I have always been an avid painter. While I am self taught, I have put in countless hours, since I was a child, at the easel. A couple of years ago, I started showing my work to the world. The response was incredible – more than I could have ever hoped. It was then I asked myself, did I travel to America to polish marketing campaigns for other clients or did I actually want to leave some work here that I could say was entirely mine. Did I have the courage to say that I was a painter? Many artists reading this, or those who would like to make the move into a creative field like painting will know how terrifying that prospect sounds. In today’s age of social media and worldwide connectivity, I can attest that there has never been a better time to share your work with the world.
So here I am. I paint every day.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There have been ups and downs, like any journey. Working on a painting can feel like flying at best and a full on existential crisis at worst. You exhibit as much control as you can, but if you don’t relinquish some control the work will appear staged and tired. Fresh work requires pushing yourself into unchartered waters. Good painting has a pulse, while bad work never gets off the ground.
Professionally, there have also been ups and downs. Sales bring more than a financial benefit; knowing someone values your work to hang it in their home is an immense thrill. My work hangs in Australia, Europe and here in America. The art world is all about relationships. With that can come rejection or not being included in a particular show. That’s part of the business. Ultimately, working on a painting that is going your way, that has some life, is an experience that outshines any negatives.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with you as an artist – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I would like to consider myself a figurative painter. I try to incorporate a lot of abstraction into my work but ultimately, the form appears. I respond to work that plays with form. Pure abstraction has it’s place and many people love it, but I always find it lacking. I often paint animals but I think, my work is trying to say something about the human spirit.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My plan is to continue to produce good work. Without that, any other plans are pointless. In the near future, I would like to establish a working relationship with one or two galleries in Boston. There are so many great ones in this city.
Contact Info:
- Website: saatchiart.com/john.gallagher
- Instagram: john.gallagher.artist
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