Born in 1956, John Coll began his career as a marine scientist before committing to sculpture as a profession 36 years ago. Since then, he has become one of Ireland’s leading figurative sculptors. Commissions include monuments to the writers Patrick Kavanagh and Brendan Behan in Dublin, and Countess Markievicz at Rathcormac in Co Sligo. More recently he completed a portrait of an tUachtarán Michael D. Higgins for the Office of Public Works and a monument to the singer Luke Kelly in South King Street, Dublin 2. He has exhibited widely in Ireland and also in Europe and America. His work can be found in the collections of Stanford University (California, USA), NUI Galway, Galway City Council, Boston College (Massachusetts, USA), The National Library (Kildare St, Dublin), The National Museum (Collins Barracks, Dublin), and the Bank of Ireland.