Hugh Byrne’s work is non-figurative and makes use of colour, structure and composition to achieve an overall sense of experimentation. Byrne relies on gut intuition and curiosity for direction and to establish a balance between spontaneity and discipline. Drawing on his studio space, tools, materials, as well as previous artworks as direct stimulus for the development of new work, it is a response to his environment.

Seams, staples or stretcher bars are left visible in Byrne’s work to allow insight into the process and shine light on structural elements which are usually hidden. The artist wants the construction process to be both obvious and questioning; creating an opportunity for the viewer to be invited in, but not all the way. When making his work, he is conscious of the viewer's relationship and interaction with it.

Making use with what’s at hand means that general studio detritus often gets integrated and results in work that sways/manoeuvres between painting, assemblages and sculpture. At times more attention is given to the frame than whatever it is framing; exploring the idea of what constitutes a painting. The artworks become objects, hard won through the process of making.

'Colour and structure are divisible as ideas but in Byrne’s paintings they are also joyously enmeshed: colour is structure. This is true throughout his inventive body of work. In his earlier works, Byrne often painted with a mapmaker’s sense of boundaries. So he stacked his colours like blocks or overlapped them as if making a collage, but he never caused them to mingle. The boundary prevailed. To a degree this method and understanding persists in his new work. Over time, though, Byrne has allowed himself to paint in a looser and messier style.

Sean O’Toole is a contributing editor to Frieze magazine (London/USA).

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2023 Investec Cape Town Art Fair, EBONY/CURATED, South Africa

2022 ‘Quick on Your Feet, EBONY/CURATED, Franschhoek, South Africa

2020 ‘All Things Considered’, Lumisol, Munich, Germany

2020 ‘In Chorus’, EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa

2018 ‘Destabilising the Object’, EBONY/CURATED, Franschhoek, South Africa ‘Point And Line’, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2017 ‘Tipping Point’, EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa ‘Flipside’, Warren Editions, Cape Town, South Africa

2016 Solo Booth at Turbine Art Fair, Johannesburg, South Africa

2015 ‘Tattarrattat’, EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2023
Expo Chicago, EBONY/CURATED, Chicago, USA
'Room With a View', Curated by Karen Elkington, EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa
Investec Cape Town Art Fair, EBONY/CURATED, South Africa

2022 ‘Thresholds’, Sessions, Cape Town, South Africa
AAGA annual African Galleries Now online edition powered by Artsy, Africa Investec Cape Town Art Fair, EBONY/CURATED, Main Booth, South Africa
‘Summer Group Show’, EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa

2021 ‘A Very Loop Street Summer’, EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa
‘8X8’, EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa
Investec Cape Town Art Fair Digital Event, EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa
1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair, New York, United States of America
‘In [the] Loop, EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa
‘Colors of Abstraction’, 193 Gallery, Paris, France

2020 FNB Art Joburg, EBONY/CURATED, Johannesburg, South Africa
‘Homework’, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
‘All Things Considered’, EBONY/CURATED, Bascule Bridge House, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa
Investec Cape Town Art Fair, EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa

2019 'AKAA (Also Known As Africa)' 2019, Paris, France
Investec Cape Town Art Fair, EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa ‘Barnard Collective’, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2018 ‘nano 1.2-’, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2017 ‘From The Horses Mouth’, EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa ‘Summer Exhibition, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
Turbine Art Fair, Johannesburg, South Africa

2016 ‘Abstracted’, EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa
‘nano-’, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
That Art Fair, Cape Town, South Africa
‘Summer Exhibition’, EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa

2015 ‘In Collaboration With’, THAT Art Fair, EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa ‘Landscapes’, EBONY/CURATED, Franschhoek, South Africa
‘Group Show’, Literary Festival, EBONY/CURATED, Franschhoek, South Africa

2014 ‘Emergence’, EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa
‘Group Show’, EBONY/CURATED, Franschhoek, South Africa ‘Group Show’, Youngblood Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2013 ‘New Works’, Haas Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
‘The Editions Show’, Salon 91, Cape Town, South Africa
‘One in a Million’, Salon 91, Cape Town, South Africa
‘Group Show’, Youngblood Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2012 ‘First Thursday’, Divine Room New Heritage Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa ‘Conditions’, White River Gallery, Nelspruit, South Africa
‘I’d Rather Be Swimming’, Salon 91, Cape Town, South Africa
‘Industrial Abstractions’, The Factory, Durban, South Africa
‘Expression Sunset’, Salon 91, Cape Town, South Africa
‘Shedding Skins’, ELE Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2010 ‘Discovered City’, Mahe Xin, Taipei, Taiwan

2006 ‘Abstraction in Colour’, Side Café, Pretoria, South Africa