Living away [from Newfoundland] means I can focus on the memories more easily, there's less distraction. The years I spent growing up in Newfoundland, that's where all these images come from.
- Conrad Furey, 1987

From Conrad Furey: A Man Happy With His Work by Joan Sullivan, The Sunday Express, June 14, 1987, p.24.

Conrad Furey was born in Baie Verte, Newfoundland, in 1954. He studied commercial art in St. John's before moving to Ontario where he graduated from the creative art program at Sheridan College, Brampton, in 1974.

Furey then moved to Hamilton where he worked as curator at the Canvas Gallery, and as a set designer for television. He became involved with the art community in Hamilton and participated in the Creative Artists in the Schools Program of the Ontario Arts Council

Toiler Of The Sea/ Still A Ways To Go 1978 Acrylic on Masonite 90 x 105.2 cm (32KB)

Furey considered himself a self-taught artist whose work, since 1976, was inspired by the memories of his childhood in Newfoundland. His paintings are primarily acrylic on canvas or plywood structures, but he experimented with bronze sculpture and other media. His paintings tend to emphasize expanses of primary colours, giving them a distinctive style that is easily recognizable.

Fish Dream 1978 Oil on Masonite 61.3 x 80 cm (32KB)

He was commissioned to paint several murals and religious works in Hamilton and Newfoundland, including "Stations of the Cross" for St. Pius X Church, Baie Verte, in 1976.

In addition to being part of the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador's Permanent Collection, Furey's work is represented in a variety of collections including Hibernia Corporation in St. John's, City Hall in Hamilton, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario.

Conrad Furey died in 2008.

For more information on the artist, or to view more of his work, please visit: http://conradfurey.com.

Updated January, 2008