Ken Moroney, (1949-2018).
Ken Moroney was born to Anglo Irish parentage in London in 1949. Born into a postwar environment that no doubt shaped his compositional approach and subject matter which as can be seen had many recurring themes. He was technically proficient in many different genres and honed those skills with wonderful fleetingly executed landscapes, colourful still life and intriguing genre works which captured the mundane moments of the everyday.
Ken Moroney was no doubt like so many others of that post war generation, however details of his private life appear somewhat limited, it is understood that during his youth his father who was arguably concerned about his son’s artistic temperament encouraged his son to take up boxing which he did, achieving some regional success while representing South London in his teens. Painting however was never far away, and his desire to express himself through his artistic output continued to flourish, particularly using his favoured medium of oils. It is perhaps his use of light, colour and shadow that are arguably the defining elements of his style, the ability to capture a moment in time, no doubt executed very quickly with short rapid brush strokes which is very much reminiscent of French Impressionism and this influence is clear, particularly the beach and river scenes some of which were painted ‘plein aire’ in both France and Italy.
Moroney was not averse to travel and worked for major galleries in New York and while his work was exhibited at the Royal Academy London the observation was made that ‘Ken Moroney had considerable talent; any painting purchased now can only be seen as a sound long term investment’. Of course, while Moroney was largely self-taught, he nevertheless mastered the ability to express an atmospheric response that was ofttimes simply executed but nonetheless captivating.
Photo credit: Galleriedesart.
Artistic Style and Influence
Emanating from the French Post-Impressionist tradition, Moroney's work is frequently compared to the beach and maritime scenes of masters like Eugène Boudin. As an artist, he prioritised capturing the fleeting qualities of light, shifting atmospheric conditions, and emotional immediacy over precise, rigid detail. His trademark style is characterised by dynamic, expressive brushstrokes and a bright, vibrant palette that infuses his landscapes and seascapes with incredible movement and energy.
Career and Exhibitions
Over his prolific career, Moroney's work gained international acclaim and was exhibited at prestigious institutions worldwide, including:
The Royal Academy (London)
Beaux-Arts (Paris)
David Messum Gallery (London)
The Klein Gallery (Ontario, Canada)
Today, his paintings are highly sought after by collectors and grace many important private collections throughout Britain and continental Europe.
His work continues to attract great interest and will arguably become even more popular in the future. In 2007 Christie’s Kensington London, sold ‘the toy boat’ work and will no doubt become a shrewd investment as the years progress as will the works we are currently bringing to the market. The artist died in 2018.
Impressionism is the newspaper of the soul’
Henri Matisse (1869-1954).
