Gay Brabazon's paintings are abstract representations of various aspects of Irish life, from the personal to the mythological, and convey a strong sense of place, namely, the Curragh of Kildare.

Gay Brabazon’s work has been exhibited at many prestigious open selection shows in Ireland, including her solo exhibition in Kildare earlier this year, which was received with enthusiasm and acclaim.

The daughter of Aubrey Brabazon, a famous Irish jockey who in 1947, 1948 and 1950 won three Cheltenham Gold Cups and two Champion Hurdles, Gay’s early artistic working life was spent in the art-room of Rotary Screens of Ireland working on designs for fabric printing. Her early work included the Dutch wax designs printed in Nigeria by ABA Textiles which Yinka Shonibare MBE features in his installations.

She went on to work for several years as an assistant director in the film industry, working on many films including James Joyce’s story “The Dead” (Director John Huston).

In 2004 Gay returned to painting and now lives and works in Ireland exploring in her work the depth and unspoiled beauty of contemporary Irish landscapes.


Artist’s Statement

These eight paintings form four sets of pairs and are representative of various aspects of Irish life from the personal to the mythological. There is a strong sense of place contained in the collection.

It is a great pleasure to have my work shown in the Cotswolds where the Irish have always felt welcome.

RELATIONSHIP. Two figures: Male & Female. Connected, yet separate; Together, yet apart, as each looks to their own horizon.

DRIVING THROUGH. Two cottages with green doors, one on each side of the street.

IN THE GREEN is a tiny gentle country landscape.

There is a sense of tension in EDGE as the country folk observe the city where life is lived at a different pace.

In the Celtic world, the number nine contains the greatest blessing. Turning with the direction of the sun (deiseal) invokes blessing. NINE TURNINGS is a work of blessing.

The Irish have always had a special relationship with the horse. The Curragh of Kildare, an important Celtic landscape, is where many Irish racehorses are trained.

HOOF MARKS is a celebration of the horse . (9 divisions invoke the blessing).


The Patroness of Ireland is Saint Brigid. This 5th century woman claimed pasturage for her sheep on the Curragh of Kildare from a local chieftain in a legendary manner. He promised her as much land as her cloak would cover. She cast her cloak on the ground and it grew magically to cover the entire Curragh. A piece of cloth considered to be from Brigid’s cloak survives in a reliquary in Bruges Cathedral. It is of a strange weave and dyed with red oxide. These two works, BRIGID’S CLOAK are made on handmade vegetable paper and imagine her amazing cloak approaching opposite sides of the Curragh.