Brian O'Doherty was born in County Roscommon in 1934. His novels include The Strange Case of Mademoiselle P. (1992) and The Deposition of Father McGreevey (1999), which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2000. Also known as the conceptual and installation artist Patrick Ireland - he changed his name in reaction to the Bloody Sunday killings in Derry in 1972 - he has served as editor of Art in America and was the on-air art critic for NBC. Currently, he is professor of fine arts and media at the Southampton College campus of Long Island University. He is the author of numerous works of art criticism, including his book American Masters and the influential essay "Inside the White Cube." and American Masters: "The Voice and the Myth". He lives in New York City and Todi, Italy.