Kilkenny-based ex-swimming champ takes plunge into art world

A Kilkenny-based former Irish swimming champion has swapped the pool for paint brushes as he prepares for his debut exhibition at Ireland’s largest art fair.

Conor Turner represented his country at juvenile and senior level, before building his career in real estate.

But his transition to a full-time artist emerged when he and his family began painting to pass the time during lockdown.

On a Zoom call months later, a client spotted one of his abstract works hanging on his wall, beginning a career pivot which has now propelled him to Art Source at Dublin’s RDS, running from November 14-16.

“It’s the biggest showcase of my work to date,” said Conor, 31, originally from Santry in North Dublin but now living just outside Kilkenny City. “Art is a relatively new venture for me. My wife and her family were self-isolating and one evening, we decided to do portraits of each other. It was just a bit of a laugh but I kept it as a pastime”.

It was only when an American client noticed, and later bought, some of his work, that abstract expressionist artist Conor found the confidence to leave the rat race behind for good.

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Some soul searching and advice on the art world from established artist Kevin Sharkey, whose works Conor is a fan of, led him on his new path.

“I fleshed it out with him, I asked him ‘am I insane or can I do this?’ and he gave me some tips and the mindset to understand that my art is not for everyone, and some people will tell you straight out they don’t like it. But I’m getting enquiries in from the most weird and wonderful places,” he outlined.

Fragments of Joy, an expansive, 6-metre long work spread across five canvasses which took months to complete, will be his showstopper at Art Source.

The show features over 200 of the best Irish and international artists along with galleries, a big selection of affordable art and pieces from some of the biggest names in the art world, such as Tracey Emin, Andy Warhol and John Redmond.

“The Irish public shows increasing demand for art with every passing year and Art Source has become a must in the calendar year for anyone looking to add a piece of art to their collection,” said show organiser, Patrick O’Sullivan.

“As a collective, Irish people have an innate cultural appreciation for the arts and Art Source not only gives them the opportunity to bring home one-off original artworks, but also to meet the artists behind the pieces,” he added.

Expected to draw more than 15,000 people, it opens at the RDS on Friday, November 14 and runs until November 16.

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