ABOUT THE ARTIST


Up to my waist in water at the Botanic Gardens! Glazing with Emerson Ryan Installing a piece at the Botanics, back in the water again!






ARTIST STATEMENT:

'The energy and gusto of Michelle's approach to her art is palpable...any space would be enhanced by her ceramics,
which have been moulded and plied by Michelle's distinctive talent and energy."  

Marie Devine, "Dynamic Ceramic" The Irish Garden Magazine, March 2006.

I am an award-winning Ceramic Artist originally from Co. Tipperay who lives and works in Castleknock, Co. Dublin.  I graduated from N.U.I. Maynooth in 1996 with a Masters degree, having studied English and History.

In 2003 I embarked on a dramatic change of career into the visual arts having worked as Director for a multi-national retailer for a number of years.  I had always had a keen interest in ceramics and so I made the decision to re-train as a Ceramic Artist.  My work is informed and inspired by plant and botanical forms, in particular that part of our environment that is hidden from view or perhaps ignored.  
For instance through the lens of a microscope exists a universe of life and beauty that is not visible to the human eye and as such remains unknown to many.  In addition all around us organisms are living, dying, reproducing and adapting at an incredible rate.  I seek to illuminate this world in my work and to take a snapshot of a moment in a plants life and make it assessable to all.  In exploring these concepts - clay with its amazing vigor, vitality and fluidity gives me the freedom to create wonderful textures, colours and forms.   I am especially inspired when working on site-specific outdoor projects and I often incorporate water as part of my design. 

For the last four years the highly acclaimed Sculpture in Context art exhibition at The National Botanic Gardens has given me an opportunity to express these concepts in clay.  This event over almost a twenty-five year history has established itself as the largest outdoor sculpture exhibition in Ireland.  

From The Age of Christ (2004) to The Titan Arum: Behind every great man... (2005) and from Pollen Hotspot (2006) to Puffballs: From the inside out (2007) and more recently The Dahlia: Loud and Proud (2008) - each sculpture allowed me to explore these ideas further in a large outdoor setting.  From man's decline towards old age being mirrored in the natural world in Kinsella's immortal words; to a magnificent plants struggle to reproduce; from the infinitesimal pollen grains all around us; to the humble fungus that bursts open so that it might live on and to the Dahlia flower so ostentatious, so full of life and energy - each one is a testament to natures incredible diversity.  It is my hope to continue to capture this diversity in my work and to celebrate the natural world in all its forms.  

In 2004 I was awarded a Sculpture in Context Award for a work of distinction for one of these pieces - The Age of Christ (see below for details). 

I was commissioned in 2006 for a large collaborative public art project by St. Patrick's National School, Diswellstown to commemorate the opening of their new school.  The piece was entitled When the hand was lifted from the clay...  The project comprised of the hand prints in clay of almost 450 participants and was installed in the foyer of the new school building.  

I also teach weekly ceramic classes from my studio, as well as weekend workshops to both private and corporate clients.   

My work is available from The Kilkenny Shop, in their Dublin, Killarney and Galway stores; The DESIGNyard Gallery, Dublin; Dream Scheme Interiors Nenagh, Co Tipperary; The Craft Granary, Cahir, Co. Tipperary; Rossa Pottery,Cashel, Co. Tipperary and from select exhibitions throughout the year (click here to see forthcoming/current exhibitions).  My work is held in private collections in both Europe and the United States.

Last year I launched an exciting new range called Red Inside exclusive to the Kilkenny Shop.  

In 2008 I have been involved in a number of exciting outdoor sculpture shows,  please see Web Gallery page for further details.  In August my piece Pollen Hotpot won the Public Award for the sculpture most popular with visitors at Outside: Insight - Sculpture in the Gardens 2008 at Brigit's Garden, Roscahill, Co. Galway.   I am currently exhibiting a large outdoor sculpture in the river Tolka at Sculpture in Context 2008 at The National Botanic Gardens.
  

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SELECT EXHIBITIONS: (For further details on individual exhibitions please click on link or see Exhibitions/Gallery page)

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004


Puffballs: From the inside out, The National Botanic Gardens, 2007.

AWARDS:

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Dr. Mark Hamilton, Gemma McGovern (participant) and myself, during the filming of How long will you live?  Sept. 2008.

PRESS/RADIO/TV: (Select articles below available as PDF files, just click on title to view.)

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SOCIETIES:
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PUBLICATIONS: 

(Select articles I have written are available as PDF files, just click on title to view.  All articles are re-produced with the permission of the publication editors.)
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ADDITIONAL:
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At work in my studio.