Anno Domini // the second coming of Art & Design
is proud to present...
Divine Intervention
Vermin Graffiti
Dale Collins (Ireland) solo exhibition
VIEW AVAILABLE WORKS ONLINE
Dale Collins’ work bridges the dichotomy of negativity and positivity, exploring the tension between despair and hope through the intertwined narratives of his life and the story of Vermin Graffiti. Vermin, an infamous graffiti artist from 1990s Bristol, UK, was sectioned at the age of 25 in one of the country’s oldest asylums, convinced he was part of a movie orchestrated by a higher establishment with advanced technology. This marked a pivotal moment in a life shaped by extraordinary creativity and profound struggle.
As an internationally recognized contemporary artist and a single father raising two teenage daughters in Ireland, Dale’s practice serves as both a personal meditation and a tribute to resilience. His series Divine Intervention channels subconscious energies through intuitive mark-making techniques, embedding layers of graffiti tagging poetry as a transformative force. These verses—drawn from Vermin’s raw graffiti poetry and Dale’s own reflections—are not mere embellishments but catalysts for change, resonating within the canvas and far beyond it.
Vermin’s story, shaped by his creative brilliance and struggles with mental health, is reinterpreted in Dale’s paintings with a lens of hope and renewal. By integrating Vermin’s words into his art, Dale honors his friend’s voice while manifesting positivity—a process of reconciliation and healing. This body of work is Dale’s declaration of faith: a space where minds, stories, and struggles collide in an effort to transform and transcend the lingering shadows of mental illness.
Each piece begins with a central horizontal line, rooted in Vermin’s iconic graffiti tag. From this foundation, Dale expands the composition through improvisation, blending influences from the Impressionist masters with the raw energy of Neo-Expressionism. This evolving process reflects the concept of divine intervention, where instinctive creativity transforms pain into beauty and meaning.
The question arises: are these the voices of two artists, or is it one artist battling the dual forces of the mind? From graffiti to fine contemporary art, this bipolar dynamic reflects the constant collision of mental illness and wellbeing—debilitation and enlightenment—that can strike at any moment. The result is a profound collection of works that spark conversation, touching on themes that resonate with all of us.
For Dale, art is not merely expression; it is a process of healing, connection, and transformation—a visual language that gives form to the invisible battles we face as well as a celebration of the power of creativity to overcome.
Dale has a BA honors in fine art Coventry University UK as well as being a former student on the MA abstract painting program at California State University Longbeach CA.
VIEW & PURCHASE AVAILABLE WORKS ONLINE
Artist's reception: February 7, 2024 5-9pm
Exhibition dates: February 7-March 15, 2025
Gallery hours:
Thursdays & *Fridays Noon–7pm, (*First Fridays 5-9pm)
Saturdays Noon–5pm
