Oliver (Ollie) DOWLING

Sincere condolences to Oliver's family and friends. His kindness, generosity and vision touched so many in the arts. Although his legacy will be long felt, his presence will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace and tranquility.

I am so very sorry to see this news. Oliver was a wonderful and most interesting friend to my late mother, Rosalinda, and to me. My condolences to his partner and family. May his memory be a blessing.

To Alan and Oliver's sisters and family, Please accept my deepest condolences. Oliver was very kind and supportive to me many years ago when I was involved in an Arts Council project. He was always gentlemanly and good humoured, as well as knowing so much about art and the art world. He will be sadly missed. May he rest in peace.

Oliver did a lot for the visual arts in Ireland. He inspired, was always interesting and graciously gave his time and intellect to others looking to follow in his path. Deepest sympathies to his friends and family.

Deepest sympathies to Alan and all the family on the terribly sad loss of dear Oliver who was such a lovely, kind and interesting man. He will be missed by so many of his friends in the arts in Ireland where he made a profound impact.

Oliver was visionary and a champion of artists at every stage. Humble, kind and engaged, he contributed so much to the development and vibrancy of the visual arts in Ireland. What a huge loss.

Sending love to Alan, family and friends.

Deepest Condolences to Rose, Peggy and Joe and Ollie's partner Alan. It was always a pleasure to run into Ollie in town or dropping into the gallery, always engaging. He was a lovely next door neighbour. RIP Ollie.

My sincere condolences to Alan and the Dowling family on the death of Oliver. I knew Oliver at the Arts Council & he was a joy to work with. May your happy memories of him sustain you in the days and weeks ahead.

Dear Oliver
I have known you for such a long time through rosc, the arts council, your famous contemporary art gallery (a place for learning), and conversations at the NGI. Always a pleasure, new ideas, helpful hints, creative directions….
You will be missed. Rest🙏

A huge loss to the Dublin art scene. Oliver was a great champion of Irish artists. He will be sorely missed. My condolences to his partner and family.

Oliver was such a wonderful person in that he made you feel very welcome in the art world, and no doubt he'd a lot on his mind with past and future projects but was always in the present when talking to you. Rest in peace Oliver, you will be missed.

My deepest condolences to Oliver’s family. Oliver was a corner stone of the art world - one we turned to for his tremendous clarity of vision. Generous with his valuable time, he continued to advise, enable and facilitate art projects into recent months.

Oliver will be missed by everyone who knew him. He was such a positive force and a kind soul. I send my thoughts and sympathies to those especially close to him. Rest in peace, Oliver.

It feels like the end of an era. Oliver was such a generous soul. An incredible curator, advisor and supporter of the visual arts in Ireland, it's hard the imagine the art world without him. My deepest sympathy to Alan and Oliver's family. May he rest in peace.

We would like to send our sympathy and condolences to Oliver’s family, thinking of you at this very sad time, from all at Dublin Samaritans.

So very sorry to hear of Oliver’s death. I was a young student starting out going into his gallery. He was generous and kind. He did so much for contemporary art in Ireland. He was someone in the art scene who was supportive , encouraging always took time to chat if you bumped into him.
He will be missed.
Condolences to his partner and family.
Rest in Peace .

My deepest condolences to those closest to Oliver. He will be so terribly missed by all of us who were fortunate to have met and known him. From my earliest encounters of his gallery on Kildare Street and his natural mediation of the work of his gallery artists to us as very young art students, and continuing throughout the years when his gentle support was always there. His legacy will live on. May he rest in peace.

So sad to learn of Oliver's passing. What a wonderful gentleman, I enjoyed his humour, intelligence, and passion for the arts in my times engaging with him over the past three decades. Sincerest condolences to his close circle of friends and family; he will undoubtedly be dearly missed.

The nicest, gentle man, and a wonderful supporter of the arts and artists. His legacy is the love and respect he enjoyed from those who knew him. He will be missed by all in the arts.

So sorry to hear of Olivers passing a real gentleman. We lived next door to the Dowling family. My sympathy to the Dowling family and his partner Alan.

To Rose and Dick, we are so sorry for your loss. Condolences to all Oliver’s family and friends.

Oliver was a kind and thoughtful man. His Kildare Street gallery was an educational place where you were made to feel welcome even when you had no money to buy the fine work on the wall. More recent times we would meet him out walking and he stopped to talk, ever curious with a wry smile and a kind word. A gentle man.

So deeply saddened to hear of Oliver's passing and my sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. He was a giant in his commitment to the arts, and was an early advocate and supporter on behalf of generations of artists. An intelligent, charming, humble, endlessly curious and thoroughly decent man. A unique presence in Irish culture, Oliver was the greatest friend that Irish artists ever had.

Please accept most sincere condolences from myself and all in the Art Management Office. I met Oliver in the early stages of my career and enjoyed many conversations with him throughout the years. His depth of understanding, expertise and passion for art combined with generosity, integrity and good humour made him much respected and beloved by all who were fortunate to encounter him. My thoughts are with all who love him.

So sorry to hear the sad news of Oliver Dowling's passing. I had learned about his gallery and support for artists when I was studying Art History in UCD without realising how supportive he'd come to be to me many years later at the LAB Gallery. Reading the tributes online this week and talking to colleagues at IMMA, everyone talks about how incredibly generous Oliver was with his support and knowledge and how special that was because we all respected his opinion so much. He blazed a trail and was ambitious for the artists and the visual arts in Ireland in a way that inspired confidence through his belief. He was such an empowering champion to so many and he will be sorely missed.

Saddened by this… Oliver was such an elegant, gracious man… I remember him gamely allowing uninvited art students like me drink his wine at show openings… and meeting there the exciting, carefully-chosen artists who formed the Dowling ‘stable.’
Oliver struck me as the most international of all gallerists. He had the vision thing.
Post-Kildare street I would bump into him on my visits to Dublin where with his kind and interested words helped me feel somehow connected to art practice in Ireland.
I know well that he continued to be an important force in the visual arts and a valued, real friend to artists and galleries throughout the country and beyond.
I remember him as a pioneer in so many senses; he was unique, and good.

Oliver Dowling was a gentleman, a fiercely loyal friend, especially to his artists. He was a leader who blazed a trial for others, including me, to follow but did so with an integrity and courage and honesty few could match. He was THE towering figure for contemporary art in Ireland for decades from his role in bringing international artists to Ireland, including Beuys, to representing new Irish artists who became international names. Ireland and Dublin has lost a visionary and seeker and finder of truth. I will miss his authoritative response to and assessment of contemporary art. Under-recognised. Irreplaceable. Unfairly early. One of the ( generous ) greats. Jerome

I was privileged to work with Oliver in the Arts Council. He taught me a great deal and was a generous and extremely supportive colleague. Rest in Peace Oliver.

Rest in peace Oliver, a true friend with all our prayers, Amen.

Rose,
I'm so sorry to hear of the passing of your beloved brother, Oliver. I've fond memories of meeting him in O' Daly Road when i was a child.He was so good humoured and full of fun. Thinking of you and all his family and friends at this sad time.

Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest”.

Deepest sympathy to all who knew and loved Oliver. He was a true champion of the visual arts and mentor to hundreds. His very presence gave courage and fostered self belief.

Deepest sympathy on the death of Oliver. I was privileged to work alongside him in the Arts Council in the 1990's, where he was the best of colleagues and a passionate advocate for the visual arts. Oliver, you made a difference and may you now rest in peace.

My deepest sympathies to Oliver's family. He was so encouraging to me as a young artist when I moved back to Dublin. Kindness that will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace.

Sending our deepest condolences to all those who loved Oliver.
We are hugely appreciative of his support through his work with the Arts Council in the early years of the studios history. May he rest in peace

Rest in peace Oliver. You were a great friend to Irish art and artists. Deepest condolences to Oliver’s partner, family and friends.

May he Rest in Peace.

My deepest condolences to Alan and all of Olivers family for your loss, my thoughts and prayers are with you all at this difficult time. 🙏

Ollie was a true gentleman. Kind and gentle to all. He will be sadly missed. Condolences to his family and his circle of friends.

So sorry for your loss Alan and for Oliver’s family also. Thinking of you this very sad time.

I always felt better after meeting Oliver - at the city bike rank in Grantham Street or across the street in Tesco. He had the rarest gift- to be honest and good humoured, refined and simple. But it meant that the last time we met and he said things weren’t good , I did’t believe him. An awful loss, there won’t be anyone like him.

Lovely colleague when we both worked for a large freight company back in the 1960s. Funny and empathetic. R.I.P.

So sad to hear of Oliver’s passing. He was such a lovely person. Always a pleasure to meet. The Irish art world was enriched by his gallery and presence. Deepest condolences to his partner and family.

So saddened to hear the passing of oliver, he was a true gentleman.
Thinking of his partner Alan and the extended family at this sad time. May he rest in eternal peace ❤️ 🙏

Sending Alan and Oliver's family our deepest condolences at this very sad time. May Oliver rest in peace.

Deepest Sympathies to all the Dowling family and extended family on the passing of Oliver.
Chatted to him over the years while working or attending many art venues and always remember his kindness and support.

My heartfelt condolences to Alan and the Dowling family on the sad passing of Oliver, may he rest in peace.

So sorry Alan and the dowling family on the sad passing of oliver, my thoughts and prayers go out to you at this sad time. Rip oliver

So sorry Alan and the Dowling family for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

My deepest condolences to Alan and all of Olivers family for your loss, my thoughts and prayers are with you all at this difficult time.

Oliver was always such a gentleman. Condolences to his family. Lovely memories of working with him in the 90s.

Condolences to Oliver Dowling’s family and friends. His gallery was really formative - I was really just a kid going in there when I was a student but it really opened up my mind as to what art could be, and he treated me as a welcome visitor coming over with the list of works. His commitment to the visual arts continued long after the gallery closed and his importance in the arts is hard to quantify.

When I asked Oliver to join the Imaginaire Irlandais team in 1994, I couldn’t have known we would become friends for almost thirty years. He was a true gentleman. Steely, when he needed to be, especially with some demanding French art curators back then , but always polite and respectful. And such a great supporter of artists. I learned a lot from him. I will miss our occasional coffees and chats, as well as his wisdom and experience, and his warmth. May he rest in peace.

Sincere sympathies to Oliver's family. He was a lovely man and a huge supporter of the visual arts in Ireland. R.I.P.

So sad to hear this. I always enjoyed meeting Oliver, his interest in art was committed and utterly sincere.

My sincere condolences to Alan, and Dowling family.
I fondly remember Oliver - generous, kind, nurturing and fun. He taught me lots about visual arts during the short time we worked together in Merrion Square. And I am forever grateful for his many kindnesses over the years since.

Oh Oliver. May your beautiful, kind, gracious soul soar high. Le ghrá, Sarah

Sincere sympathies to Alan and the Dowling family on the sad passing of Oliver. He was a thorough gentleman; his loss will be felt in the arts community for a long time to come.

My deepest sympathies to Oliver's family. Oliver was a lovely man who, in his own quiet and effective way, made a huge contribution on many levels to the visual arts in Ireland. He will be remembered with affectionate gratitude.

Very sad to hear that Oliver is gone, he will be greatly missed, always so kind, positive and encouraging to all who knew him. May he rest in peace.