Michael Craig-Martin was born in 1941 in Dublin but he studied art at Yale University in the USA. His earlier work was heavily influenced by both the American artists he knew and met whilst studying at Yale and by Minimalism. But it was his 'Oak Tree' of the early 1970's which really brought him recognition. More recently the focus of Craig-Martin's work has shifted decisively towards painting - as has been the case with a number of other conceptual artists. These pieces are boldly outlined with vivid colour schemes.

Craig-Martin's work is held in many public collections from New York to London. He has had a recent retrospective at the Irish Museum of Modern Art.

Above: Intimate Relations, 2001