Navigating the Artistic Landscape
The 10 artists on show, selected from a longlist of 120, are looking to establish their careers. As they explain, it takes more than just talent. Grit, luck, and opportunities are also crucial. This makes one concerned about their futures and those of their graduating peers.Sorcha Browning: From University to the Next Step
Sorcha Browning's installation Eden turns data collection into digital performances, adding a touch to the history of painting. Graduating can be daunting as there's no solid support group. The space outside of university is more dispersed, but exciting. She has a residency at the National Sculpture Factory in Cork and is excited to develop new characters and ideas. A winner of the €10,000 RDS Taylor Art Award and the €5,000 RDS Graphic Studio Award, Browning's work shows her potential.Her journey from TU Dublin's Sherkin Island visual-art course to this point is a testament to her dedication and talent. She is ready to take on the challenges and make her mark in the art world.
The RDS awards provide a platform for artists like Browning to showcase their work and gain recognition.
Heather Hughes: Exploring the Paradox of Imperfection
Heather Hughes creates installations that explore the relationship between image and consumer in a digital world. Her work I Trust You with Your Own Eyes turns viewers into voyeurs.She focuses on people and how we interact, highlighting the paradox of fearing imperfection. Living in a digitized society gives us a sense of connection without the concrete bonds. Hughes' work shows her unique perspective and artistic vision.
As a graduate of the National College of Art and Design, she brings a fresh approach to the art scene.
Miss Mary Jane – Cahal O'Connell: Finding a Place in Social Chaos
Cahal O'Connell, a visual artist, musician, and cabaret performer under the alias Miss Mary Jane, works with cliche to create moving scenarios. In the current sociopolitical climate, finding a working theme and medium with passion is challenging.He graduated from North West Regional College and Belfast School of Art, and his work expresses humanity in all its aspects. His drag persona adds a unique element to his art.
The RDS awards offer an opportunity for artists like O'Connell to shine and be recognized.
Ava Lowery: Prioritizing Intimacy in Art
Ava Lowery's works in watercolour and oil look at the nude with an unflinching gentleness. She creates queer, intimate, female-centric naked works that work against the traditional nude genre.Her pieces aim to reveal the personal and internal, making private moments public. As a graduate of Limerick School of Art and Design, she shows great emotional and technical assurance.
The RC Lewis-Crosby Award she won validates her talent and vision.
Stell de Burca: Balancing Tradition and Narrative
Stell de Burca, a trans, nonbinary artist, makes powerful paintings that balance traditional oil skills with a comic-book-style narrative. Having a minimum-wage job can be draining, but opportunities like the RDS award are life-changing.As a graduate of Limerick School of Art and Design, they bring a unique perspective to the art world and use their art to bring resilience and humanity to the fore.
The RDS award gives them the chance to continue their artistic journey.
Kyle Fairbanks: Creating Futuristic Worlds
Kyle Fairbanks creates futuristic worlds tinged with nostalgia. He distorts and exaggerates images, dreaming up new languages and worlds.He wants to continue creating imaginative art, work on commissions, and exhibit more. His graduate degree from Atlantic Technological University in Sligo fuels his creativity.
The RDS award provides him with the platform to showcase his work and reach a wider audience.
Keara Simonsen: Preserving Human Creativity
Keara Simonsen, of Filipino and Northern Irish descent, explores rootlessness and cultural connection through visual media. Future challenges include AI and financial instability, but she believes human-made artwork has a unique soul.Her work deftly explores relationships, language, and place. As a graduate of Belfast School of Art, she is ready to face the challenges and pour her life experiences into her future work.
The RDS Members Art Fund Award she won recognizes her talent and potential.
Claire Ritchie: Integrating Reclaimed Materials
Claire Ritchie's abstract paintings integrate reclaimed materials, showing her subtle understanding of colour. There are many challenges facing graduate artists, but she persists.She received a graduate bursary award from Queen Street Studios in Belfast, which gives her a studio for a year. Her work reflects her determination and creativity.
The RDS awards support artists like Ritchie in their artistic pursuits.
Fionn Timmins: Connecting with the Past
Fionn Timmins cites various sources in his work, which is described as a "beautiful love letter to the Irish landscape." The cost of living is a challenge, but he finds inspiration in stone circles and bog oak.He has a three-month residency at the National Sculpture Factory in Cork and wants to strengthen his portfolio and apply for a master's in sculpture. His graduate degree from MTU Crawford College of Art and Design has laid the foundation for his artistic journey.
The RDS Mason Hayes & Curran LLP Centre Culturel Irlandais Residency Award gives him the opportunity to further develop his art.
Mary Madeleine McCarroll: Unlocking Cultural Identity
Mary Madeleine McCarroll unlocks the potential of spirituality to preserve cultural identity. She explores the intersections of her Irish and Bahamian roots and uses different mediums to tell stories.As a graduate of the National College of Art and Design, she brings a unique cultural perspective to her art. The RHA Graduate Studio Award she won provides her with a studio and a stipend.
The RDS exhibition showcases the diverse talents of these artists and their contributions to the art world.
The RDS Visual Art Awards exhibition is at the RHA Gallery in Dublin until January 18th.