A visual artist based in Kilkenny, Lee’s bold and engaging work focuses on the importance of communication and human interaction, and pushes the boundaries of narrative and figurative painting. His work delves into the lyrical and the uncanny, combining moments of quiet reflection and interactions of emotional weight, leading viewers into an environment that is startlingly new but remarkably familiar to us all.

Figures often appear together or solitary in states of silent exchange or astounding isolation. At times, an event has just occurred that we, as viewers, can never ultimately grasp the significance of and are left with unanswered questions. Shanahan’s visual world occupies a liminal space; emotional complexity and uncertainty are key to its poetic representation.

Suspended in ambiguous narratives that invite the viewer to create their own interpretations, Lee’s paintings offer a tactile reflection of intimacy, communication, and the fragile beauty of human connection.

The physical act of painting is evident in Shanahan’s work. Oil paint is applied in heavy impasto; in other areas, the pigment is scraped and scratched over bare canvas. There is a confidence in the gestural handling of material but also an intimate and hesitant uncertainty in the brushwork, making the physical works all the more poignant.

The colouring is unintrusive, relying more on tonal values and sharp contrasts to elevate the conceptual themes within the paintings. Shanahan's painterly approach balances raw strength with a subtle sensitivity, resulting in a distinct and entirely his own artistic voice. 

Lee Shanahan is a graduate of Limerick School of Art and Design. His work has been shown extensively in group shows in Ireland. Lee has had two solo shows - A Human Voice 2022, where he received The Emerging Artist Award in association with Kilkenny Art Council, and Signs 2024, as part of Thomastown Creative Arts Festival. He received The Collector General Purchase Award in 2024 and has had work acquired by the Office of Public Works and Contemporary Irish Arts Society. Lee’s works have been featured in literary publications such as ROPES, SONDER, and The Four Faced Liar.