Paul Flaherty

Paul Flaherty is an emerging visual artist from Mullingar, Ireland, primarily working in painting and drawing. Born in 1996, he initially pursued engineering at Athlone Institute of Technology, where his interest in technology and its societal impacts began to take shape. Flaherty later transitioned to the Fine Art program at IT Sligo, graduating in 2021, merging his passion for art and technology. His current practice is based out of Abbey Road Artist Studios in Athlone, where his journey as an artist first started. Flaherty’s work delves into the emotional landscapes shaped by digital and physical duality, blending expressive figuration with abstract elements to comment on contemporary issues such as isolation, connection, and the digital age.

Artist Statement

Paul Flaherty’s artistic practice explores the profound impact of technology on human experience, particularly the shift from physical to digital spaces. Through a combination of abstract and figurative painting, he delves into the idea of digital dualism—the coexistence and conflict between the tangible and virtual worlds. His work addresses the emotional consequences of this transition, reflecting on themes of loneliness, isolation, connection, and the complexity of contemporary life. Flaherty’s use of vivid colors and expressive forms creates a visual language that speaks to the subtle yet significant sociological and psychological shifts of the digital age. By balancing irony, symbolism, and emotional tension, his paintings invite viewers to question the cost of progress and the value of human connection in a rapidly digitizing world.

Dates of Residency in Abbey: June 2023 – March 2025