Martin Firrell

‘Firrell has reinvented poetry for the 21st Century: text in public spaces that takes the lid off ideas like truth, memory and fear.’ – International Herald Tribune

Firrell is an artist who creates text-based pieces for public spaces, because he believes art’s place is at the centre of everyday life. His work has appeared in the form of digital projections and installed type, on cinema canopies and ticket backs, on till receipts, and in public toilets. Robbed of their usual context, Firrell’s often provocative words take on different emphases and meanings.

Highlighting the social value of art, he states that concision, utility, and public availability make up the foundation of his projects. His work has been compared to that of American artists Barbara Kruger and Jenny Holzer.

Firrell’s recent projects (all London, 2006) include: I Want to Live in a City Where, National Gallery; When the World’s Run by Fools It’s the Duty of Intelligence to Disobey, Houses of Parliament; All Men Are Dangerous, Tate Britain.

He is currently working for a projection onto the Palais du Louvre, Paris, and for a new work in development entitled We Need Another Hero.