Specially commissioned painting of iconic Che Guevara portrait unveiled at the U

A specially commissioned painting of the iconic portrait of Che Guevara by internationally acclaimed Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick was unveiled this morning at DCU’s student centre the U.

The painting has been generously donated to the U on long-term loan by a DCU alumnus.

Vice- President of Dublin City University Professor Daire Keogh and President of DCU SU welcomed Jim Fitzpatrick to DCU for the official unveiling of the portrait, preceded by a Q&A with the artist.

President of DCU SU Vito Moloney Burke said: “The iconic image of Che Guevara is going to be one that fits into our new home magnificently. Jim Fitzpatrick's portrait has come to represent the vibrancy that the student movement in Ireland thrives on, having inspired generations.

As Fitzpatrick is an experienced activist who has consistently strived for social justice, we are delighted to have the opportunity to hear directly from him.”

Fitzpatrick is hailed as one of the most celebrated and internationally known Irish artists of his generation: his ornate, colourful and intensely decorative Celtic artwork is now so well-known and unique that it is instantly recognisable.

Perhaps his most famous piece is his iconic two-tone portrait of Che Guevara created in 1968 and based on a photo by Alberto Korda. Ernesto "Che" Guevara was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, guerrilla leader, diplomat and military theorist.

A major figure of the Cuban Revolution, his stylized visage has become an omnipresent countercultural symbol of rebellion and global insignia in popular culture. Fitzpatrick recalled meeting Guevara in 1961, who proclaimed himself as a “proud Irish-Argentinian”; a statement he also made to Irish American actor and singer, Maureen O’Hara. The art of Fitzpatrick has also attracted attention.

His earliest work, the legendary Che Guevara poster of 1968 published just before his death in Bolivia, became the iconic image of the anti-Vietnam war protests world-wide.

He also produced significant bodies of artwork for Thin Lizzy (most famously their Jailbreak album in 1976), for Sinéad O'Connor's 2000 album Faith and Courage and for The Darkness' 2003 single "Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)". His decorative Celtic artwork is both breathtaking and striking.

In 1978, he wrote and lavishly illustrated a book called The Book of Conquests, the retelling of a cycle of Irish myths, the Lebor Gabála Érenn.

The book retells the legends of the coming of the Tuatha dé Danann to Ireland and their fight with the Fir Bolg. This was followed up by The Silver Arm, which retells further portions of Irish myth, this time based on the deeds of Nuada of the Silver Arm and the deeds of Lugh in their fight with the Formor.

Fitzpatrick is currently involved in numerous projects across the globe; including Syria where he is collaborating with among others the YPG (People’s Protection Unit).

Furthermore he has recently completed a specially commissioned graphic of jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan, political activist, writer and theorist and founder of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party). He is also involved in the Black Lives Matter movement and was commissioned by the great grandson of Frederick Douglass (the American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman) to create a poster image of Douglass for use by the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives supporting Black civil rights and black culture.