Gerard Byrne has joined forces with Louis Copeland & Sons, one of Ireland's best-known names in bespoke tailoring, for a collaboration celebrating two practices shaped by skill, tradition and meticulous attention to detail.
For more than ninety years, Louis Copeland & Sons has dressed generations of Irish men. Founded by Lithuanian Jewish tailor Hyman Coplan after his arrival in Dublin in the early 1900s, the family business remains defined by its commitment to quality, where every garment is measured, fitted and made to last. Byrne's approach to painting is similarly rooted in patience and observation, each work built through light and colour.
The connection extends beyond process. Byrne's figurative paintings explore the relationships between individuals and the world around them, with clothing playing an integral role. The weight, drape and texture of fabric shape both character and atmosphere, making Louis Copeland's mastery of tailoring a natural counterpart to Byrne's painted world.
The collaboration began at Louis Copeland's Wicklow Street store, home to the business since 1984. Byrne's figurative painting Perfect Duet, now a permanent fixture in the store, provided the backdrop for the photoshoot, where Gerard joined Louis Copeland Snr for a series of portraits capturing two craftsmen in conversation.
Perfect Duet, 2023