Environmenta, Featuring the work of Irene O’Neill.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT
‘The latin for the word Environment is Environer which means ’to surround’.
‘Environmenta’ showcases a new body of work created over the past two years. The work responds to environmental issues through a series of colourful paintings and drawings. As the project evolved my research explored various areas within my broad chosen concept for the show. Through the work I respond to and consider certain aspects of climate change and our warming planet.
The colourful paintings, sometimes abstracted, respond to bushfires, rising sea levels, environmental damage through mining focusing on lithium extraction. Further paintings respond to reforestation and trees and their vital contribution to our environment. The cohesive link between the paintings is colour. I use strong vibrant colours to communicate my ideas. I see the world in colour! To create these pieces oils and acrylics have been laid down on canvas and paper in a fluid painterly style with expressive mark making.
Working as a studio based artist I use own reference photographs, my own plein air studies and found photographs to create my work. I like to digitally enhance and play with my photographs using software to explore colour and image possibilities.
My artistic influences are many and include Katz, Frankenthaler, Diebenkorn, Hockney, Rothko, Franz Kline, Caroline Walker UK and Eamon Colman, Ireland

– Irene O’Neill, 2024

4th – 28th September. Open Weds – Sun, 11am – 5pm

ARTISTS BIOGRAPHY

Irene O’Neill works in Pallas Projects and Studios, Dublin 8. She holds a Certificate, and Diploma in Visual Art from NCAD through CEAD. She graduated from NCAD in 2019 with an Honours BA Degree in Fine Art Painting. She attended RHA Gallery School and was awarded a CPD diploma by TU Dublin in Atelier Painting and Drawing.

O’Neill’s work has been exhibited in various shows including ;- Rua Red’s Open Show (2020), Courtyard Gallery, Ennistymon in 2020 and 2021, BKB Studio Members show in 2020-2021. She has also exhibited with Ranelagh Arts Centre in two shows in 2022 through open calls. O’Neill’s work has also been selected through open call by Artnet DLR , in 2022, 2023 and 2024. She has also exhibited with Pallas Projects Studios in 2024 in a fundraising exhibition.

Online digital exhibitions include CIACLA USA, Artnet DLR, Nua Collective, The Pepney Gallery, Slow Lane Gallery and Artists Talk Magazine’s Digital display in New York in 2022. Her work has featured in UK and European publications namely Circle Magazine, Artist’s Talk Magazine , and Condé Nast World of Interiors . Recently she has exhibited with Creative Collective, a group of 5 artists, in Sculpture in Context 2023, Fade Street Studios 2022, CHQ gallery 2023, and in “Small things like these” in LHQ Gallery, Cork 2023. She has recently created a new series of site specific work for “Emphemeral”, an outdoor show with Creative Collective held in Huntingbrook Gardens in 2024.

O’Neill has completed residencies in Tyrone Guthrie Centre in 2022 and 2024. O’Neill was awarded an agility grant by the Arts Council of Ireland in 2022 which supports this exhibition. O’Neill is a professional member of Visual Artists Ireland. O’Neill’s practice is studio based and she creates her work through painting, drawing, printmaking and in recent times through three dimensional pieces.
Her work is held in the National State Collection, and in private collections in Ireland and abroad, including St. Patrick’s University Hospital Dublin.

Contact Email: irenee.oneill@hotmail.com
Instagram: @ireneoneillartist