Bressie to open George Naughton art exhibition

The first solo art exhibition by Roscommon teenager, George Naughton, who is living with the catastrophic and terminal muscle-wasting illness, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) will be opened on Wednesday of this week, November 8, by leading mental health campaigner, Niall Breslin, known as Bressie.

The exhibition, which opens at 4.30pm in the Anam Gallery in Roscommon town, will showcase the powerful work of the 13-year old, who is one of three brothers born to local couple, Paula and Padraic Naughton, to be diagnosed with the devastating terminal illness.

Sadly, George's older brother, Archie, lost his brave battle for life in July of last year at just 16 years of age,,while his twin brother, Isaac, also suffers from DMD, which is a progressive and incurable neuromuscular disease

Following the death of his beloved older brother, Archie last year from DMD, George Naughton struggled to process his profound sense of loss, fear and grief. With the support of local artist, Rita Oates, he began to process that grief by pouring his thoughts and feelings into art and began attaching words and titles to each piece of art.

George Naughton said he is “so privileged and humbled” that Bressie has agreed to open his art exhibition on Wednesday as he feels they share similar values and a deep desire to support others while hoping for a brighter future for everyone.

Rita Oates opened the Anam Gallery in Roscommon earlier this summer and one of her goals is to host an annual youth art exhibition. George Naughton's work is the first such exhibition, and is free to everyone to attend.