Playing to the gallery

Adding a gallery to their home allowed a sculptor and his family to display their art collection, writes ALANNA GALLAGHER

SCULPTOR JOHN COLL is best known for his portrayal of Patrick Kavanagh, a work that has been much loved by the public since it was placed on a bench on the banks of the Grand Canal, 21 years ago. Across town, along the banks of the Royal Canal, another writer, Brendan Behan, has been immortalised in bronze by Coll.

The sculptor lives in a 1970s bungalow in south Co Dublin with his wife, Dr Barbara Loftus. The bungalow was in need of an update. It possessed a long dark corridor that ran the length of the house.

Additionally, John’s work was stored in boxes and the family was keen to have it on show in the house. Denise O’Connor, an architect and interior designer with Optimise Design, suggested using the corridor as a gallery space. She built floating shelves and niches to house his work and also installed picture lights over the couple’s art collection. His work is now on display throughout the house and includes some maquettes of his large-scale outdoor work, a head of WB Yeats, and pieces that he has made for his daughter Rebecca. He calls these her heirloom pieces.

The room at the end of the corridor was transformed into a garden room with direct access to the garden. “It’s become a place where we come to read or have a drink before dinner,” Coll says.

Coll also loves to cook, yet felt the kitchen was dark and dreary. Now that it has been renovated, the couple entertain every other weekend. Scallops and sea bass cooked in a saffron and coral sauce is one of the artist’s signature dishes. Daughter Rebecca no longer lives at home, but comes back to study and to dine with them. She is studying for a PhD in Trinity College.

The garden was done by award-winning designer Elma Fenton, who collaborated with Coll on several projects. The green space is home to some of his work. Previously, access was restricted to the side gate. Now access is from the garden room too. Coll loves the fact that this simple change brings the garden indoors. He is now considering adding a glazed-in verandah to the rear of the house.

Coll met Loftus while singing in their college choir at UCG, now the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG). Both still sing and are members of Ranelagh Singers. Last summer, when the work was complete, they invited the whole choir to the house to view the renovations. “The choir likes to party as well as sing,” says Coll.

John Coll is available for commission and can be contacted on johncollsculpture.comor by email at johncollsculpture@gmail.com. Prices start from €1,500. If you're going to Electric Picnic this weekend, you can see his work at Body and Soul.

USEFUL ADDRESSES

Optimise Design, tel: 01-661 9020, optimise-design.com

Elma Fenton, tel: 01-497 7311, elmafenton.ie

PHOTOGRAPHS: BARBARA EGAN, REPORTAGE.IE