Richard Kirwan

Richard Kirwan is a Senior Lecturer in Fine Art at Goldsmiths, University of London, where he has taught since 1999. His academic career spans over two decades, including previous teaching positions at the University of West of England and Goldsmiths College. Kirwan maintains an active studio practice that incorporates painting, digital and analogue printmaking, coupled with architectural intervention and installation. His work critically engages with Modernism, particularly Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism, Conceptualism and Pop Art.

Kirwan's research interests focus on the boundaries between restricted palettes of color applied to hard-edged geometric systems and structures, recalling Modernist architecture and design. His work questions assumptions of theoretical and formal hierarchy, displacing notions of 'purity' with real world 'contamination.' He has been widely exhibited internationally across Europe, Singapore, Brazil, Australia, Japan and the USA.

His recent scholarly activity shows a consistent engagement with contemporary painting practice, art theory, and critical discourse. Key themes in his work include intellectual property in art, conceptual approaches to painting, and the relationship between painting and architectural space. His publications and exhibitions demonstrate a sustained investigation into the theoretical and formal aspects of contemporary painting.

• Abbey Fellowship in Painting, British School at Rome (2002)

Kirwan has served as an External Examiner for Central St Martins and City & Guilds School of Art. He has participated in numerous professional activities including the AXA Art Prize UK 2025, mentorship programs, and significant exhibitions such as 'Sturm und Drang 37 Foley Street' (2024) and 'An Artist's Question, July' (2023) at the British School at Rome Gallery. His work continues to explore the evolving relationship between painting practice and contextual shifts in comprehension and interpretation.