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about gillian

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aRTIST sTATEMENT

My work centres on the key themes of transformation and escapism. My practice serves to create experiential aesthetically beautiful spaces that offer viewers an opportunity to break from their normal everyday lives, to experience an alternative world of play and protection. My multidisciplinary installations feature hand-made soft organic sculptures, lighting, and audio carefully arranged to unconsciously lead the viewer to physically interact with the art. I am fascinated with using opposing tensions to heighten the visual aspect of the work. While the viewer interacts with the artwork and enjoys a positive, pleasant experience, the visual created by this interaction will often appear austere and unsettling to the onlooker. I am also interested in creating accessible, interactive and viewer centric pieces to challenge the traditional way art is exhibited to the public via the white gallery cube. 

My visual art practice explores themes of transformation and escapism, using large-scale works that offer the public exciting new ways to experience and engage with contemporary art. My multidisciplinary immersive installations feature soft organic paper and fabric sculptures, lighting and audio arranged to invite the viewer to briefly escape their everyday routines by entering an alternative wonderland where things are not what they seem. I graduated in 2004 with a first-class honour’s degree in fine art interdisciplinary sculpture. Over the past 10 years I have been developing my practice, exhibiting in Dublin, London and California. In 2019 my participatory installation, ‘Dawn’ was selected for the 4th International Techstyle Art Biennial in San Jose USA. This work was also exhibited in dlr Municipal Gallery. In 2020 my work was shortlisted for the Zurich Portrait Prize Award. I am currently undertaking a postgraduate Masters in Art and Research Collaboration at IADT.

Artist CV

Education:

2022                      MA in Art & Research Collaboration, IADT, Dun Laoghaire

2011                      Professional qualification in Accounting, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

2004                      B.A. (1st Class Hons.) in Fine Art specialising in Interdisciplinary Sculpture, DIT

Solo Exhibitions:

2018                      Dawn, Mart Gallery and LIVESTOCK, Dublin, Ireland. Curators Deirdre Morrissey and                                        Francis Fay (LIVESTOCK)

2018                      Monthly Exhibition, Lennons @ Visual, Carlow, Ireland 

2017                      Vogue in the Afternoon, Kilkenny Arts Festival Fringe, Kilkenny, Ireland 

2017                      Titanium, Mimosa, Carlow Arts Festival Fringe, Carlow, Ireland

2017                      Blush, The Pigyard Gallery, Wexford, Ireland

2016                      Dabble in Art, The Copperhouse Gallery, Dublin, Ireland

2016                      Showcase in the Potting Shed, The Old Yard, Kildare, Ireland

Selected Group Exhibitions:

2021                       IADT MA Graduate Exhibition, LAB Gallery, Dublin, Ireland. Curator Astrid Newman

2021                       Packed, Collaboration with Nicki Crock for, Riffe Gallery, Ohio, USA

2020                       Zurich Portrait Prize 2020, Crawford Art Gallery, Cork, Ireland

2020                       Zurich Portrait Prize 2020, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland

2019                       Social Commons, Liberty Hall Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. Curators Siobh McGrane

                                and Kathryn Maguire

2019                       Stranger than Fiction, Millepiani, Rome, Italy. Curator LoosenArt

2019                       Picture Imperfect, Dlr Lexicon Gallery and LIVESTOCK, Dublin, Ireland. Curator                                                 Francis Fay (LIVESTOCK)

2019                       International TECHstyle Art Biennial IV, SJMQT, San Jose, USA. Curator Amy DiPlacido

2018                       Watercolour Society of Ireland Annual Exhibition, Farmleigh House, Dublin, Ireland

2018                       Altered, Minnesota Street Project, San Francisco, USA. Curators Kathrine Worel and                                           Emmanuelle Namont Kouznetsov (OFFspace)

2018                       Femme, VfD – Vogue Fabrics, London, UK. Curator Kat Hudson.

2018                       140th Annual Exhibition, Dublin Painting & Sketching Club, Dublin, Ireland

2017                       No Fixed Abode, The Copperhouse Gallery, Dublin, Ireland

2017                       Fresh Paint, Picton Gallery, Pembrokeshire, UK. Curators Nicky Philipps, Susie Philipps and                                 Chris Newell

2017                       Pin Up, Classic Cars West, Oakland Art Murmur, San Francisco, USA. Curators

                               Kathrine Worel and Emmanuelle Namont Kouznetsov (OFFspace)

2017                       Chelsea Fringe Festival, Oxford House, London, UK. Curator Fiona Polard.

2017                       Annual Group Exhibition, Green Acres Gallery, Wexford, Ireland

2004                       Green Tea, Joint exhibition with John Mayock, Cockleshell Gallery, Wexford, Ireland

2004                       Platform 059, Carlow Institute of Technology, Eigse Arts Festival, Carlow, Ireland

2004                       DIT Fine Art Graduate Show, Portland Row, Dublin, Ireland

Awards:

2021                      Street Art & Spectacle Bursary Award 2021, Arts Council of Ireland

2020                      Shortlisted for the Zurich Portrait Prize Award, National Gallery of Ireland

2004                      Student of Academic Excellence, DIT School of Art, Design & Printmaking

2004                      Best Fine Art Student, final year DIT School of Art, Design & Printmaking

Selected Artist Residencies:

2022                      Studio Kura Artist in Residence Program, 1-month Residency Japan

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