Aiden Walsh was born in Durban in 1932. He studied at the Natal Technical College from 1948 to 1950, and at the Hammersmith School of Art, London, from 1956 to 1957. Between 1959 and 1966 he taught art at schools in KwaZulu Natal. From 1961 to 1979 he was  the founder, owner and Director of the Walsh-Marais Gallery in Durban, an arts outles where he displayed and promoted the work of South African artists. He was Curator of the NSA Gallery, Durban from 1979 to 1987.

From 1979 to 1987, he worked as curator at the NSA before beginning to work as a full-time painter in 1987. His stay in 1986 at the Cité in Paris was played an important role in his decision to work as a full-time painter. He has held a number of solo exhibitions and participated on group exhibitions. He exhibited in numerous exhibitions throughout the country and has had both public and private commissions. Among the public commissions are portraits of President Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo. Walsh was also known for his watercolours of bleak landscapes and historical buildings.Walsh also designed and created stage costumes. His work is represented in public and private art collections in South Africa, United Kingdom, New Zealand, France, India and Australia.

References

South African Art Times, (2009), The passing of Aidan Walsh, from the South African Art Times, 16 July, [online] Available at www.arttimes.co.za  [Accessed 08 September 2011]|Cape Gallery, (2009), AIDAN WALSH, from the Cape Gallery, 16 July, [online], Available at www.capegallery.co.za [Accessed 08 September 2011]

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