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George Campbell and the Belfast Boys
A member of the Royal Hibernian Academy, George Frederick Campbell was an acclaimed
and distinguished artist in his lifetime, which in difficult political, economic and social
circumstances was a remarkable achievement. Commenting that Campbell was the first
‘Avant-Garde painter to become an RHA’,
1
critics, however, in the early 1970s considered
his style of painting ‘stale and stereotyped,’
2
and ‘slick and superficial.’
3
In 1978, the Spanish
government recognized Campbell’s contribution to their country and made him a Knight
Commander of Spain and in 2006 honoured him by erecting a plaque at a roundabout in
Malaga in his name.
This exhibition re-examines Campbell’s career and his close friends, Gerard Dillon, Daniel
O’Neill and Arthur Armstrong – the Belfast Boys.
The exhibition also traces Campbell’s individuality and flair for organizing exhibitions with
his brother, Arthur, in Belfast during the War, a flair which continued through his friendships
in Malaga, London, Dublin and Galway until the end of his life. It reflects on an artist who
became unfashionable in the ‘swinging sixties’ and has been unjustly neglected in recent years.
1
Arthur Gibney, in documentary ‘Looking For George’ Cedecom, 2006.
2
Brian Fallon, The Irish Times, 30 April, 1971, p.12
3
Bruce Arnold, Irish Independent, 15 May, 1971, p.2
fig.1: George Campbell painting, 1940’s
fig.2: George Campbell, Belfast 1939