Stillness in Motion: Seeing Light Anew: Slattery Gallery | Southampton, New York
“There’s something about the Hamptons light that brings the work alive. I’m delighted to be back in Southampton—this time with a full body of work and space to let it breathe." — Gerard Byrne
Gerard Byrne returns to the Hamptons with his most comprehensive exhibition in the U.S. to date, marking the grand opening of Slattery Gallery. "Stillness in Motion: Seeing Light Anew" presents 24 carefully selected works that span the breadth of Byrne's artistic practice, from intimate plein air studies to monumental studio compositions.
The exhibition opens with eight freshly completed Southampton landscapes—Byrne's first extended engagement with the East End's distinctive light and atmosphere. Working en plein air across the village and surrounding coastline, the artist captures the ephemeral qualities that make the Hamptons a singular place: the way afternoon light filters through beach grass, the interplay of shadow and brilliance on weathered shingles, the quiet drama of sky meeting sea.
These new works are presented alongside four commanding seascapes that demonstrate Byrne's mastery of maritime studies. Drawing from his formative years working in lighthouses on Irish coast, these paintings reveal an intimate understanding of water, weather, and the mercurial nature of coastal light. Four still life compositions offer moments of contemplative stillness—arrangements of glassware, flowers and seafood that speak to the artist's ability to find profound beauty in everyday objects.
The figurative works, four paintings that showcase Byrne's renowned ability to capture human presence and emotion, provide the exhibition's emotional core. These anonymous figures, caught in moments of quiet reflection, embody the artist's belief that "you're not just painting anatomy—you're painting presence."
Completing the collection are four evocative works from Ireland, including the recently added painting of Dublin's iconic Shelbourne Hotel, its Irish tricolor flag capturing both personal sentiment and cultural pride. These pieces, spanning Dublin's rooftops, countryside boats, and urban landscapes, remind us of the artist's deep connection to his homeland.
Ireland's foremost Modern Impressionist, Gerard Byrne brings 35 years of artistic evolution to Southampton's newest gallery destination. His work, held in collections from the Irish Government to the Citadelle Art Museum in Texas, transforms the observed world into felt experience—capturing not just how places look, but how they feel.
Gallery owner John Slattery, a fellow Irishman and Southampton resident, notes: "My vision for the space is to allow art find an appreciative audience, to explore and immerse in a diverse range of genres—an aspect that Gerard so elegantly depicts through the various styles of painting."
With opening reception hosted by renowned photographer Patrick McMullan, this landmark exhibition establishes Slattery Gallery as a significant new voice in the Hamptons cultural landscape while celebrating the enduring power of painting to illuminate our connection to place, light, and human experience.
