Scam Art Emails - a warning to artists, and everyone else too!
Know your scam art emails!
As we all know scam emails and scam text messages are commonplace in our digital lives. Unfortunately scammers are very sophisticated and know exactly what to say and how to engage people in a way that very sadly means that people can and do fall for their scams easily.
We have all heard of stories of people falling for scams and sometimes losing a lot of money through the scam.
Art Scam Warnings
I am of the opinion that scams should be written about as much as possible and information of how to be alert to scams should be widely circulated.
Thankfully I have never fallen for an art scam email but artists need to be aware that they can be the targets of scams and because of this I am highlighting one of many art scam emails that I have received along with pointers about how to look for signs and recognize why it is a scam email along with what marks to look out for.
The email that I am focusing on below, is possibly one of the more believable scam emails that I have received as normally they are badly written with bad grammar and littered with spelling mistakes or strange phrasings of words.
Art Scam Email Analysis
Here’s my analysis of a recently received Art Scam Email with 5 Red Flags or signs to look for:
Generic Title
Email is not addressed to you or to anyone in particular
Urgency or Immediacy to buy your art
Requests for freely available information
Strange budget figures
Art Scam Email: Red Flag 1 - Generic Email Title
As you can see here, the title of the email is very generic. Normally when I receive an email from a serious and authentic art collector they will have a less generic email title. Sometimes they will have the name of the art work they are interested in, in the email title box or quite regularly it might be something like “Hello Pigsy” in the title box but generally it will not be something non-specific like “Painting” as it is in this scam email.
Art Scam Email: Red Flag 2 - Email is not addressed specifically to artist
As you can see this email is not addressed to anyone. This alone should be setting off alarm bells, as it would indicate that the email was sent to numerous email addresses at once, with the hope that someone will fall for the scam and respond. If you do respond, it would be at this point that they would probably use your name and address with you directly which would lure you in further and give you more confidence to believe that it is an authentic email, but ultimately you would end up being scammed.
Art Scam Email: Red Flag 3 - Urgency around the purchase
This is a clever element to the scam (did I mention that scammers are very sophisticated?!). As you can see in this email, there is an urgency regarding the purchase because it is being bought for a wedding anniversary gift. The scammer plays on the desires of artists to make sales by indicating they need to take action or do something immediately. The use of the word immediately is a psychological trick that causes people to immediately respond to the email and get lured in to falling for the scam, rather than taking the time to analyse the email and assess whether it is a scam.
Art Scam Email: Red Flag 4 - Requests for freely available information
The fourth red flag for scam emails is the request for freely available information. You can see that in this email the scammers look for information about prices, sizes and availability. This information is all available on my website and it indicates that this was a generic email that was sent to lots of email addresses with the intent to lure someone to engage and then succumb to the scam. Genuine art collectors view items on my website and then contact me and engage with me about them. Requests for freely available information can indicate that there is no genuine or authentic interest in your art and again that is was sent to multiple emails.
Art Scam Email: Red Flag 5 - A budget that ranges from low to high or covers a lot of bases
As you can see there are lots of red flags in this particular email that should make everyone stop and think whether it is a scam. However, probably the most obvious one is where the budget is mentioned and it is two figures that are nowhere close to each other.
Lots of art collectors, who make contact with me about my paintings through email, will mention their budget. However, it is not done in this strange manner but will generally be said in a way like this “my budget is about $2,000-$2,500” or “I really like X piece but my budget is $xxx so doesn’t quite stretch to that particular piece”. As you can see there is a difference here - the scammers budgets are pie in the sky with random figures plucked from nowhere and inserted in the email. While an authentic art collector, if they mention budget, sets out a figure in a serious manner with reasoning and consideration behind it.
Watch out for scam emails!
There is lots of great information online about scam emails so do a google search before you respond to any email that seems a little suspect.
Personally, I think that if something seems to be too good to be true you should slow down and think hard before responding and engaging. A true, authentic and interested party will follow up with a second email or a call if they don’t receive a response to their first email as they will presume that their email was missed.
In particular if you are starting out in your art career, and you are obviously very keen to sell your art, (and of course it is always very exciting when someone contacts you about your work) I urge you to stop and think, and be wary of art scams as they are very common. Ultimately an art scam could cause you to lose both money along with a valuable piece of your art, and this is a position that no artist wants to be in.
Hopefully after reading this blog post, as was my aim, artists will be wise to scams and after seeing all the info I have provided you will know how to spot a scam and can avoid falling for one by investigating further and not rushing to respond.
By outlining the anatomy of a scam email, I’ve clearly given pointers or the red flags you should be wise to. Please do add other red flags in the comments box below!
How does the scam play out?
You are probably wondering how it exactly is a scam, after all they are offering you money for your art. These scams generally play out in two ways.
The most basic way it plays out is that they send you a check and then when it looks like the check has cleared in your bank account, you send them the art work. However, weeks after you have sent the painting, you will receive a call from your bank to let you know that the check could not be cleared and it has bounced. You basically end up with no money and your art work is gone (and the scammers will be uncontactable).
The second way that the scam plays out (and this is the more likely one, as they really want money and don’t actually want your art) is that they will agree to buy a piece from you for a particular price with arrangements to follow about a courier/collection agent who will call to you to pick up the art work. But when they send you the check it will be for more than what was the agreed price of the painting - they will give some reason like their agent made a mistake with the check. They will then ask you to send them back the excess money (probably a few hundred dollars / euros) when the check clears. You will do this when it looks like the check clears. But again a few weeks later you will receive a call from your bank to say the check could not be processed through the clearing house and the check has bounced. You will end up having lost the “excess” money that you returned to the scammer. With this scam, you won’t actually send the art work (because they don’t want it - and this in itself should be another red flag) because they will have given some story to you about working overseas and their agent will get in contact with you shortly in order to make arrangements to collect the art. All highly suspicious!
There may be other ways that this scam plays out. If you know of other ways that the scam works, please leave a comment in the box below so that all my readers can be aware.
Be alert and recognize scams
So as you can see there are lots of opportunities to spot the red flags that indicate scams. All you need to do is be wise to them, keep yourself informed and step back and don’t engage if you think there is anything suspicious about interest that you receive in your art. Be internet savvy and always look for red flags,
The other piece of advice is that if you do happen to fall for a scam you should contact your bank as soon as you realise something is amiss. Your bank may be able to offer assistance and may know ways of getting your money back.
Thankfully I’ve never been scammed like this, but if I was I would want to make sure that no one else gets scammed. So the other thing I would do is I would tell as many people as possible about these type of scams in order to prevent the scams continuing. It’s the reason why I wrote this blog because I think artists should look out for each other and help each other in anyway.
We are a community so let’s keep our members safe and unharmed. So if you know of any other scams that target artists, you can write a comment in the box below to spread the word and warn others. The only way these scammers will stop is if the scam stops working, And the only way the scam will stop working is if people learn to recognize it as a scam. So spread the word!
Edit - June 2022, another possible scam email received
Check out the strange wording about how they stormed on to some of my artwork. What does this even mean?! A definite red flag and the need to be alert to wether this email is authentic or a scam.
Another thing that should raise an alarm is the vagueness in regards to the art work that they like - you can pretty much see that it is a generic email that was sent out to a lot of artists.
So all I can say is, artists beware and always look out for red flags in regard to email scams!
Further Edit March 2023
The PIGSY email is regularly receiving what are fairly certainly scam emails, in fact I get them so regularly that I know they are definitely scams as they pretty much word for word identical.
A further scam I’ve started seeing a rise in is where suposed art collectors approach you to buy a piece of your work as an NFT, even though you are not selling it as an NFT. The gist of it seems to be that they offer you a very high price for a piece of your art (they don’t even specify which one(!) - which as of course you know after reading this blog, is a major red flag, with you only having to pay minting or gas fees. The sites that you are directed to are either dodgy platforms that don’t mint your NFT but instead just rob your money. Or the other variation is that they work for the minting platform and after you pay for your work to be minted the offer to buy it disappears. Either way you lose money so it is to be avoided.
If it seems to good to be true….
So I will end here with the mantra “If it seems to good to be true”. It’s something to always stop and consider and before you go any further to go make a search online in order to prevent yourself getting caught up in a dodgy art scam and loosing money or even worse some of your precious original artworks. There is lots of info online written on various artists personal website and also artist professional body website including the Visual Artists Ireland.
Furthermore, you can prevent other artists from getting involved in art scams, so spread the word of any dodgy emails or social media messages that you receive to other artists. Scammers will target and contact you in any way that they can, so beware of unsolicited messages on social media and always be alert and on the lookout for scams. A good way to do this is having the starting point of thinking about whether “Is this too good to be true”!
Irish Squash Open 2022 in Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club
Irish Squash Open 2022
Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club
April 16th - April 23rd 2022
No need to adjust your set!! This is still the PIGSY Art Blog. But humor me for a little bit while I digress and write about squash - but there is a reason for the digression…….my art work is featured on the promotional material for this event!
Irish Squash Open 2022
After 2 years the Irish Squash Open 2022 returns in association with Gillen Markets, for a bigger and better tournament.. The prize money has increased to $60,000 combined, for both draws. The top seeds are Emily Withlock of Wales, World Ranked Number 18 & Patrick Rooney of England, World Ranked Number 25, with 18 top 50 players in the world, among the entries in both draws.
There are 4 home players in the Open, Breanne Flynn, Hannah McGugan, Sam Buckley & Sean Conroy, all play on Tuesday.
Breanne Flynn plays Chan Yiwen of Malaysia at 4.30pm on Court 1
Hannah McGugan plays Julianne Courtice at 12 noon on Court 2
Sam Buckley plays Henry Leung at 3.30pm on Court 1
Sean Conroy plays Mahesh Mangaonkar at 5.15pm on Court 1
All matches from Court 1 will be live streamed on Irish Squash TV from Tuesday & Wednesday. PSA Live will broadcast from the quarter finals on Thursday to the finals on Saturday.
Or if you want to watch the squash live, and in person, you can visit Fitzwilliam to enjoy some top quality squash from some of the best players in the world!
Irish Squash Open 2022 poster artwork by PIGSY - see below for details (and less squash talk and more art ramblings!)
Irish Squash Open 2022 poster features PIGSY’s “Squash Soldiers”
As a squash player and lover of the game, I am really proud to have my artwork used for the poster advertising the Irish Squash Open 2022. The painting featured on the poster is “Squash Soldiers” which is a large scale artwork that is on public view in Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club and you can read full details of “Squash Soldiers” on my blog.
Here’s a fun fact about the painting that you might enjoy if you are a squash player! If you look at the painting, you will see faces in the crowd watching a squash game.
Well, guess how I created these “faces in the crowd”?!
So of course I used the frame of a squash racquet as a stencil!
There’s always double meanings (if not even triple meanings) in my paintings. And of course as an artist with dyslexia, my paintings can be described as chaotic (a bit like my squash playing!) or “dyslexic”, with words and text written in a haphazard manner or crossed out. To understand how I paint, you must know that I am continually battling against my “dyslexic brain” and I do this by firstly always starting out with a methodical planning of an artwork to ensure a cohesive finish to it and additionally I base all of my paintings on mathematical equations. This mathematical basis means that although I paint in a loose and fluid manner my marks are always deliberate, and when the painting is finished it has a rigidity and structure, subtle as it is, that can be read or picked up on by the viewer.
More images and information about this large scale artwork can be read on the PIGSY blog or contact me for details (click the above link if you want to see images of the completed piece).
PIGSY Art Video
Watch below to see the “Focus on Art” video featuring Squash Soldiers by PIGSY.
Dyslexia Canada shares the PIGSY Film
PIGSY Film is shared by Dyslexia Canada on their Social Media Channels
A big thank you to Dyslexia Canada who shared the PIGSY film on their Facebook and Twitter accounts. Sharing the PIGSY documentary to their audience in Canada helps get my story of being an Irish artist with dyslexia out to a wider audience in order inspire and help people with dyslexia.
The film by Mike Andrews shows the challenges of living with dyslexia and what it is like to be stigmatised and put down as a child. The film however is uplifting and inspiring as it shows how I overcame the challenges and have gone on to have two successful careers as both an award winning architect and highly respected artist in Ireland and beyond with art collectors from Spain, USA, Singapore, UK and beyond adding my art works to their art collections.
Hope and Inspiration for those with Dyslexia
And although it is challenging to live with dyslexia and also it can be difficult at times to share my story and reveal parts of my self to the word, I know that I can do good and help others to overcome challenges and help them succeed while living with dyslexia - I continually share my story of my life with dyslexia to give hope to others.
I now share the film here again, for you to enjoy. Check it out below!
“PIGSY” short documentary featuring Irish Artist PIGSY
PIGSY on Instagram & Youtube
PIGSY Social Media - Youtube & Instagram
I’ve written before about which Social Media platforms I use which includes Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Of late, I have been mainly using Instagram because it is works so well for my art given the type of visual platform that it is.
I’ve been wanting to up my Instagram game and utilise the platform for all that it can offer to an artist.- in essence it can be used as a platform to share your portfolio of work.
PIGSY Instagram Reels
So this weekend, I set about doing a bit of research as to what way I could improve on the images I put up on Instagram and also what I can share in addition to images. From doing research, I can now see that Instagram is very much about reels and video content. Adding art video content is something new to me so for the moment I am experimenting with the different music and effects that I can add to the videos. It’s all a bit of fun at the moment but as I learn more I can take it a bit more seriously and use the new tools I have learned in order to build my follower numbers on the PIGSY Instagram.
To see more images on the PIGSY Instagram, you can give a follow here.
PIGSY Videos on Youtube
The PIGSY Youtube channel has been in existence for awhile but I’ve only really used it sporadically. I’ve mainly used it for online exhibitions in the past but I intend to use it for the PIGSY podcast which I am starting to plan. IT’s going to be a podcast about creativity, art and dyslexia which I think there will be massive interest in. The podcast concept is in it’s infancy but I am currently looking at the set up for it before I begin to start scripting it, along with lining up well known creatives with dyslexia to be be part of different shows or to be interviewed for the podcast. It’s always exciting to have new projects to be working on. For the moment, I am uploading video shorts and reels from Instagram on to youtube. It’s good to have them on both platforms and I think they will reach two different audiences this way.
Here’s my latest reel, hot off the press, and uploaded to Youtube
"Squash Soldiers" - a very special commissioned print
“Squash Soldiers”
“Squash Soldiers” now available as a print
Back in 2019, I blogged about a large scale piece of art that I was commissioned to do. That artwork was “Squash Soldiers” and it now proudly hangs in Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club on Appian Way in Dublin. Creating such a significant piece of art and seeing it hung in this exclusive venue is one of the highlights of my art career. It was an exciting piece to work on from conception to creation.
It’s a serious piece but there are fun elements within that squash players will enjoy such as the fact that I created the heads in the crowd by using a squash racquet as a stencil. Fun for sure!
The painting has been very well received and I always enjoy when someone refers to it when I visit the tennis club. However one of the greatest things happened of late when I was approached by someone who commissioned a print of this art work with a custom frame. This made me immensely happy and I was glad to get straight to work to create this very special piece for a very special person.
Custom Frame, as specified by PIGSY
Due to the proportions of the original artwork the print is long and linear so it very much needed a bespoke frame in a size that enhanced the look of the art. I drew a plan for the print and the frame and it was fabricated by the very talented Jake in Picture Bloc Framing Shop which conveniently just happens to be next door to my studio!
As well as specifying the dimensions of the frame I chose a specific frame color that enhances the bold, bright and vivid colors in the print. The concept behind the lighter color of the background is that it is intended to represent the bright whiteness of the squash court and to draw the viewer in to the action of the squash players and their highly contested game.
The actual print was left in the capable hands of Jim in Inspirational Arts (if you are ever there, tell them PIGSY sent you!) and after proofing was printed on high quality fine art paper. Luckily the printer is right next door to the frame shop so I conveniently walked from one to the other!
PIGSY “Squash Soldiers” a painting about the art of the game of Squash!
As a squash player and an artist, I like to think that this art work is a cross over between the art of squash playing and the game of art. Having watched games by players at the top of their game I can attest to the “art” and skill of these players (if you are reading, you know who you are!) and with the positioning of the original artwork at the back of the main court in Fitzwilliam, there is literally art going on from the front to the back of the room.
It’s painted in a style that is very different to my regular PIGSY style and this is because of the nature of the commission and the fact that it was a “pet project” and also the location of where it was going to hang. It was an honour to be asked to paint a work for public display in Fitzwilliam Tennis Club and it also gave me huge satisfaction to paint about my passion of squash. The preparation work was really interesting and brought back so many great memories of some of the great squash games I have watched along with the incredible squash players I know. Some of these highlights, of my life in squash, are captured in the painting along with certain people who had an impact on me or on the game of squash are represented within. Take a look - you might spot yourself!!!
Contact me by email to know more about this art print, or for further details and frame size if you are interested in one of these very special, very limited, PIGSY art prints.
With shipping worldwide available, drop me a line on pigsy.art@gmail.com for more information
Wish & Pop: Seville, Spain
“Wish & Pop” is now open!
Friday 4th of February 2022 at 6pm
Wish & Pop Contemporary Art Gallery
Sevilla C/Baños, 43
Wish & Pop es un nuevo espacio en Sevilla donde puedes encontrar arte contemporáneo, de artistas de la localidad y más allá. Se define como una 'Galería de Conceptos' porque habrá arte y diseño en muchos formatos. La inauguración de la galería es a las 18.00 horas del viernes 4 de febrero con el patrocinio de San Miguel Cervezas!
En colaboración con La Casa Amarilla, estoy orgullosa de tener mis obras expuestas en "Wish & Pop".
¡“Wish & Pop” ya está abierto!
Wish & Pop Contemporary Art Gallery
43 Calle Baños, Seville
Wish & Pop is a new space in Seville where you can find contemporary art, from local artists and beyond. It is defined as a 'Gallery of Concepts' because there will be art and design in many formats. The opening of the gallery is at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, February 4, sponsored by San Miguel Cervezas!
In collaboration with La Casa Amarilla, I am proud to have my works exhibited in "Wish & Pop".
You can follow “Wish & Pop” on Instagram here
"Gloria" featuring PIGSY: A Slow Lane Gallery and Shoeless Foot Productions Collaboration
“Gloria”
PIGSY'S STUDIO
A Slow Lane Gallery Exhibition in collaboration with Shoeless Foot Productions..
Curated by Dino Notaro
Dino Notaro presents “Gloria”
Gloria is a group show looking at the works of three featured artists with an online exhibition divided into segments.
Segment 1 features a look behind the scenes at me (PIGSY) in my studio.
Just before Christmas 2021 Curator Dino Notaro and Videographer Will Duffy visited me in my studio in Dublin. This is a short video of this visit which is an unfiltered behind the scenes look at how I create my work along with me talking about some of the pieces.
You can see more videos by Shoeless Foot Productions on Youtube. and also Slow Lane Gallery too.
I also wrote a blog and shared photos of the Studio Visit by Dino and Will which you can read about on a past blog.
My studio is currently open for visitors so do contact me if you want to visit!
PIGSY Art available in USA
PIGSY Art now available in Florida, USA
Proud to announce that PIGSY Artworks are now available in Key West, Florida in Effusion Gallery on the world famous Duval Street.
The PIGSY showcase is a collection of PIGSY artworks selected by Curator John Bradford, With many of these artworks being exhibited for the very first time, they are on show 7 days a week in Effusion Art Gallery.
PIGSY in Effusion Gallery - in the Key West Citizen
PIGSY and his artwork featured in The Citizen, Key West
The PIGSY art showcase was featured in the Key West Citizen which is the local Key West Newspaper and is available in both digital version and also in traditional hard copy newspaper format from newspaper vending machines at locations all over the island.
Effusion Gallery, 701 Duval Street, Key West, FL
Effusion Gallery is located at 701 Duval Street in Key West. Phone Effusion Gallery on 305-735-4345 for further information (pricing and sizes) about the PIGSY showcase.
The Saint Hotel, Key West
Oh and here’s a little tip if you are planning a trip to Key West in the near future - my hotel of choice is The Saint on Eaton Street! General Manager Abraham Cox along with his assistant Amy Bebbington are gracious hosts in this charming boutique hotel, close to all the Key West Action, just off Eaton Street. If you visit, tell them PIGSY sent you……and be sure to sample Paul’s amazing world famous (well maybe Key West famous) Bloody Mary at the bar!
Contact me!
To find out more about available art, drop me a line, or watch the short video about my recent art exhibition in Dublin, Ireland
Hello 2022! Here's to a great New Year ahead......
Goodbye 2021, Hello 2022!
Happy New Year from Ireland!
There’s an Irish tradition at midnight to open all of the doors and the windows to let out the old year and bring in the new year. Last night as the clock struck midnight, I stepped out the front door (thereby letting the old year away) and stood on the pathway with my wife Enid listening to fireworks go off all over the city. Of course as the clock strikes 12 you can’t help but think of the year just gone and what lies ahead in the new year.
For me, I have great plans and goals for my art career which I am always setting and updating as time goes on. Every year at this time I also look back at the year past and write a blog about the highlights. 2021 was a great year for me professionally, and in other aspects of my life, and I am hopeful that 2022 will be even better.
2021 in Spain
We were living in Spain up until July and of which I will always look back at fondly. The year I spent in Malaga was a year of great growth for me, artistically and personally and I know it will give me direction for years to come. The return to Ireland in the latter half of the year was exciting and there is so many opportunities for me here and beyond these shores also. It is all happening and I believe 2022 will be a big year for PIGSY!
In no particular order, here’s some highlights from the year past:
Continuing with learning to speak Spanish, I feel like I am gradually improving and this is the year that I can get by socially in the Spanish language
Committing to be car free. I didn’t need a car in Malaga and when I returned to Ireland I did not go back to being a car owner, instead I rent a van when need to move art or use Go Car Club also when needed. Other than that it is the bike or public transport to get around. It works!
Malaga Art Exhibition - my first solo exhibition of 2021 was in La Casa Amarilla in Malaga, Spain in March
Featured in The Gloss Magazine - thanks for the profile Penny McCormick
Group Exhibition on the streets of Malaga “Estival” - this was impressive and very exciting to see my art in front of the the Alcazaba
Commissioned to create a custom pair of Nikes - what a fun commission!!
PIGSY is name checked in an exhibit in The Russian Museum in Malaga
Beer sponsorships! San Miguel Cerveza sponsored me for my Malaga exhibition while Kerry Beer Company Torc Brewing sponsored my Kenmare exhibition.
We move back to Ireland and get to live in The Liberties for a while before we move back to Ranelagh. The Liberties is “old Dublin” and it was a great experience to live in Inner City Dublin after living in the centre of Malaga city. There are definite similarities but they are also worlds apart too!
Irish Homes and Interiors featured me in a massive “Homecoming” article along with numerous images of some of the art work I created in Spain
Set up an Art Studio in White Swan Business Park in Dublin 8. The light is great, the space is incredible, there is huge opportunity for it.
Solo PIGSY Art Exhibition in Kenmare Butter Market - this is is an incredible new venue and I was honoured to be the first artist to present a solo show here. The opening was brilliant with a memorable speech given by Poet Tim Buckley
Honoured to have artwork hung in Sheen Falls Hotel
Live painted on the streets of Kenmare, County Kerry for Culture Night 2021
My “Catharsis of Collapse” exhibition was selected for critique by Visual Artists of Ireland
One of my art works “De Facto Leader” was featured in the literary journal An Capall Dorcha (available in the MOLI Museum of Literature of Ireland)
PIGSY film screened by Irish Libraries for European Dyslexia Week
Selected by author Tony Bryant to be profiled in his new book…….watch this space for publication in 2022!
I was gladly invited to be part of the “Pina de las Tentaciones” group exhibition in La Casa Amarilla
New representation - Signed with a USA Gallery - PIGSY art work is now available in Effusion Gallery on Duval Street, Key West
The PIGSY Art Showcase in Effusion Gallery featured in the Key West Press
PIGSY Short Film screened in The Devlin Movie Theatre as past of The Ranelagh Arts Festival
Part of the “Gloria” Group Exhibition curated by Dino Notaro in Slow Lane Gallery which showcases artists in their studies which brings the viewers in to the studios while we are currently going through different restrictions regarding meeting and visiting spaces
Welcomed visitors from all over to my studio. Great to be able to chat to so many people about my art and to show them my process and output.
A series of PIGSY paper studies was selected to be in new Dublin Restaurant “Library St.”
Had a wonderfully quiet Christmas 2021
Sold lots of work and was busy shipping work to different places all over the world including USA, Hungary and Singapore!
Made so many great friends through my art events and also of course my time in Malaga - it was sad to leave them all, but I know we will meet again.
2021 - A great year, all things considered!
It’s always great to look back at all of the achievements of the year past and I always enjoy writing this annual blog (if you read back through my blog) you will find past years) and its a good record of all of the things that went on through the year that gives me happiness and also hope for the year ahead. Taking a pause at the end of one year and reflecting on the past makes sure that you don’t go hurtling from one year to the next without taking stock of all you have achieved. It also helps with goal setting for the year ahead which is very important as an artist who mainly works in a solo isolated setting. However from looking at the list above I can see all of the collaborative work that I did and this is of great importance to me. I value other artists and creatives so much and I believe that we are stronger when we work together.
And on that positive note, I’ll end with a wish for you to have a great 2022 where ever you are in the world!
All the best,
PIGSY
Art Studio Visitors
Visitors to the PIGSY Art Studio
It was great to welcome Curator Dino Notaro from Slow Lane Gallery and Videographer William Duffy (of Shoeless Foot Productions) to the PIGSY art studio yesterday.
Slow Lane Gallery
Slow Lane Gallery is an iteration of the well known and established North-side Dublin Art Gallery “In-spire Gallery” under the directorship of curator Dino Notaro. Dino is curating a group artist showcase in his new Slow Lane Art Gallery which I am really pleased to be a part of. Will Duffy of Shoeless Foot Productions shot footage which will be used as part of the showcase. The concept of the group show is to invite an audience in to the studios of artists through the medium of film to show their processes and outputs. It’s an exciting concept, particularly in these Covid times where people are not getting as much opportunity to visit artist studios or art exhibitions in art galleries.
Creative Energy
The energy from these guys was immense and I really enjoyed showing them my work and talking about all of our plans. Dino probes me and my art with some really insightful questions while I love Will’s take on my work and how he edits his videos - he creates really special films when working with some of Ireland’s top artists.,
Watch this space for the upcoming Slow Lane Gallery show “Gloria”. Featuring my work along with the work of Niamh O’Connor and Enza McDonald - it’s going to be epic!
Edit - You can now view the video created as part of the PIGSY Studio Visit by Slow Lane Gallery and Shoeless Foot Productions. A big thank you to Dino and Will it was a great experience to be part of the “Gloria” series of artists in their studios videos.
Dino Notaro of Slow Lane Gallery visits PIGSY’s Art Studio with Wills Duffy of Shoeless Foot Productions
PIGSY Art - Youtube
You can visit the PIGSY Youtube channel below to see more of my art along with videos of me working in my studio
PIGSY Press - In the Galleries, in Key West, Florida
PIGSY Art News in the Key West Press
“The Citizen” is the daily newspaper in Key West Florida and as well as being a traditional hardcopy newspaper it is available digitally on www.keysnews.com. Today, the Paradise feature includes a write up about the PIGSY Art Showcase in Key West in their “At the Galleries” section.
An image of “Self Control” is also featured
Key West Art Scene
Effusion Gallery, FLorida
Effusion Gallery is located at 701 Duval Street in Key West and can be contacted for more information about the PIGSY art collection by calling 305-735-4345.
Call in today to see the hyper gestural neo-expressionist art by PIGSY!
PIGSY Art: What people are saying,.....
“Catharsis of Collapse” Exhibition Visitors
Over 1,500 visitors saw my recent art exhibition in Kenmare Butter Market Contemporary Art Space in County Kerry in Ireland.
Guest Book for PIGSY Art Exhibition
Many of the visitors signed the guest book and left hugely positive comments and in this blog I will highlight what was said about the PIGSY art.
International Visitors to the PIGSY Exhibition in Kenmare Butter Market
The guest book shows that the visitors were from all over the world including The Netherlands, UK, Mexico, USA and Northern Ireland. It’s super to know that my work is being seen by people from all over the world while in Ireland, while also knowing that it is being seen in Spain and the USA right now, with my participation in a group show in Malaga that opened on 2nd of Dec and a showcase of my art in Key West, Florida also opened on this day!
Irish Visitors to “Catharsis of Collapse” by PIGSY in Kenmare Butter Market
And of course there were visitors from all over Ireland from counties such as Kerry, Dublin, Cork, Tipperary, Limerick, Meath, Laois, Louth, Sligo, Mayo, Wexford, Longford, Wicklow, Galway and Roscommon.
I’m really glad to have a record of all of the visitors and the places that they travelled from to see my artwork, but more importantly I am so grateful for all of the visitors that took the time to sign the guest book and write comments. I appreciate this so much and after the dust settled on the exhibition, which closed at the beginning of October, it is now great to be reading over them all now.
As well as the comments in the visitors book, I received so many positive messages and comments digitally all over social media where I posted about the exhibition. It was wonderful to see visitors tag me or share pics of the exhibition. However I am also really glad that I decided to also set up a physical guest book. There is something very tangible about seeing a comment in ink on physical paper these days (possibly even more so since Covid with the removal of many ephemeral items in paper and even the removal of simple things like paper menus in restaurants and cafes).
I’ll treasure this physical guest book and will continue it’s use at my next exhibitions and showcases. It may seem sentimental, but I see a huge value in having things like this. There is a permanence to it.
So I express a huge thank you for visiting and leaving a message!
PIGSY Art Exhibition - Visitor Comments
Here’s what was said about PIGSY art……in no particular order!
“Happy to discover your art show”
“Love your work Pigsy! Venue is awesome, looking forward to seeing a show in the USA some day”
“Wish you the best of luck”
“Interesting”
“Striking use of colour”
“Different”
“Never leave”
“Striking”
“Fab!”
“Deadly”
“Thought provoking”
“Great to see this exhib”
“Absolutely unreal”
“Strikingly beautiful”
“Class keep going”
“They grow on youu”
“Great stuff, a big fan"!”
“Inspirational & colourful”
“Well done!”
“V. deep”
“Beautiful”
“Great display”
“Fabulous”
“Impressive!”
“Cool”
“Conversational, provocative”
“Great creations, thanks”
“Exciting”
“Details and amazing”
“Vibrant colour!”
“Very refreshing”
“Vibrant thought provoking pieces”
“Excellent”
“Sweet”
“Spectacular”
“Brilliant show, huge congrats!”
“Different, enjoyed”
“A nice change from the usual”
“Excellent exhibition”
“Unforgettable”
“These paintings certainly make you think”
“Great Creations! Thanks”
Piña De Las Tentaciones at La Casa Amarilla in Malaga
Piña De Las Tentaciones - Pineapple of Temptations!
Raul Navas es el autor del cartel de esta edición
Ha llegado, ya está aquí!
#PIÑA 2021 en @lca_malaga
a partir del día 2 de diciembre.
It has arrived, it is here!
#PINEAPPLE 2021 in @lca_malaga
from December 2.
Piña Group Show
Proud to announce for the second year running, I am part of the “Piña” group show in La Casa Amarilla. The exhibition runs from 2nd of December to 10th of January and you can call in to see it in La Casa Amarilla Gallery on Calle Santos in Malaga to see a PIGSY artwork in the flesh in Spain.
La Casa Amarilla - tell them PIGSY sent you!
And if you do call in to the Galerie be sure and let Gallery Director David Burbano and Assistant Director Roy Laguna know that PIGSY sent you!!
*CANCELLED* "Studio Vibes" Event
“Studio Vibes” is cancelled
The art is on the wall but the DJ has been cancelled. The wine was ready to be chilled but it’s been boxed back up. The canapes were chosen but the caterer has been told to hold off making them.
I’m sorry to announce, that due to the current Covid situation in Ireland, the PIGSY “Studio Vibes” event in my art studio is cancelled. Hopefully I can reschedule the event in early January 2022.
With the announcements on Tuesday evening by the Irish Government that pubs, hotel events, and nightclubs must all finish and close by 11.30pm along with everyone being advised by to Work from Home if possible it doesn’t seem advisable for this event to be held. With over 4,000 daily cases of Covid being announced, along with hospitals reaching capacity, it is best to reschedule this event to ensure everyone’s safety.
Private Visit
In the meanwhile, I welcome private visits to my art studio. Send me an email on pigsy.art@gmail.com if you want to make an appointment to visit my art studio privately in order to see the PIGSY art works currently on show.
Studio Vibes......coming soon
Open Studio Event
At the moment I am prepping for the next PIGSY art event.
It’s an upcoming Open Studio night where I’ll be serving up my signature “Pigtails” to a gathering of art collectors and supporters along with DJ Mo spinning sounds and setting the vibe.
Watch this space - I’ll be announcing the date very shortly!
Studio Vibes
Sunday Studio Vibes
I spent the day in the Studio mainly cleaning, organising and getting things in order. I also hung some framed paper studies in the desk area where I have my laptop and screens set up. It was good to put a semblance or order on the chaos of my art studio.
I’m lucky to have such a large working space and there are even rooms to store further artworks off the main work area.
An Capall Dorcha Literary Collection
An Capall Dorcha
Issue 3, Autumn 2021
I’m beyond proud to have one of my artworks featured in “An Capall Dorcha” Literary Publication among a curated collection of poetry, short stories and art.
Edited by Laura Harvey-Graham, the 3rd issue of An Capall Dorcha was launched this evening in the stunning Museum of Modern Literature. It was a great launch event with poetry readings and a performance piece about Samhain to start.
And it was over a glass of wine at the launch that among all the entertaining short stories and excellent poetry I found on page 23, PIGSY’s “De Facto Leader”. A very proud moment indeed to be featured among these contemporary Irish writers and artists.
Visual Artists' News Sheet - PIGSY's "Catharsis of Collapse" Critique
Visual Artist’s News Sheet, November - December 2021
Mieke Vanmechelen visits Kenmare Butter Market and critiques PIGSY’s Carthsis of Collapse” exhibition
Pigsy, ‘Catharsis of Collapse’
Kenmare Butter Market
2 September – 2 October 2021
Arty gifts - is it too early to mention the "C" word?!
Framed Paper Studies now available
Buy local for Christmas
Contact me now if you are buying locally this Christmas and are looking for art gifts for friends and family. A range of framed PIGSY paper studies are now available from me in my Dublin studio and they make perfect gifts. Framed and mounted in a bespoke frame you can call in to the studio and select a paper study which will then be framed in a timely period. Alternatively, you can go online here and order directly on my website and your original artwork will be sent in the mail to you (or you can call in to the studio to collect, if you are in Dublin) - International shipping is also available.
Original Framed Paper Studies
Each paper study is framed and mounted with a bespoke frame handcrafted in Dublin.
Check out the full PIGSY paper studies range on my website under works.
PIGSY Press: Echo Live
PIGSY Press - Featured in the Cork Echo
I’m thrilled to share that my recent art exhibition at the Kenmare Butter Market has been mentioned in the Cork Echo Live! It’s always exciting to see my work being appreciated and recognized, especially in such a well-respected publication. Colette Sheridan, in her article about her travels through Cork and Kerry, took the time to highlight my show, which I couldn’t be more grateful for.
A Special Mention in Colette Sheridan's Travel Feature
In her article, Colette beautifully describes her journey through Cork and Kerry, two areas that are rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. What made this even more special for me was her mention of my work at the Kenmare Butter Market, a space that I truly enjoy exhibiting in. It’s always a pleasure to have my artwork in such an inviting and culturally vibrant location, and to have it featured in an article that showcases the beauty of the Irish landscape makes it even better.
To read Colette Sheridan's full article, click here.
A Nod to Basquiat - A Humbling Comparison
One of the best parts of the mention in the Cork Echo was the comparison of my work to the legendary Haitian-American neo-expressionist artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. As an artist, being compared to someone of Basquiat’s caliber is both humbling and incredibly flattering. His raw, powerful style has long been an inspiration to me, and to have my work described as “reminiscent of Basquiat” feels like a huge compliment.
I’ve always admired Basquiat for his ability to blend street art with fine art in a way that was both rebellious and deeply expressive. His work challenged traditional art norms and gave voice to the struggles of marginalized communities. This kind of artistic freedom is something I try to embody in my own work, so hearing that my style evokes his is incredibly validating.
A Moment of Gratitude
I’m genuinely grateful for the recognition and support that my work continues to receive. Being part of the Irish art scene has been an amazing journey, and every exhibition is an opportunity for me to connect with new audiences, share my message, and push the boundaries of my creative expression.
A big thank you to Colette Sheridan and the Cork Echo for taking the time to feature my exhibition. It’s moments like these that make all the hard work worth it.
If you haven’t had a chance to see my exhibition yet, I encourage you to stop by Kenmare Butter Market and experience the work firsthand. It’s an exciting new chapter in my creative journey, and I’d love for you to be a part of it.
Until next time, stay inspired and keep exploring the world of art with me!
– PIGSY
