A R T I S T S T A T E M E N T
A layering of space and time, my work interplays found elements and photography. Traces of places,
remnants
of
spaces___
A sense of flux, capturing an environment that is in transit and transformation is contrasted by a sense of presence and slow observation. I am interested in the intermingling invisible forces that affects our environments and actions.
I capture elements on the edge of abstraction, stretching the usual register of perception. I present an ambiguity, so the viewer has space to recreate and move beyond the visible. The work often implements an optical oscillation, through this it subtly suggests a malleable, unfixed reality.
My work captures a place in process, simultaneously constructing and deconstructing. It highlights a betweenness, a binary, where definitive boundaries dissolve . . .
. . ,
Through correlating photographic processes and re-presenting materials often discarded and overlooked, I prise open a gap.
An opening, to consider an alternative___
B I O G R A P H Y
Kate McElroy is a multidisciplinary artist from Limerick and based in Cork City. She received a first class honours Masters Degree in Art and Process from Crawfrord College of Art and Design, MTU (2021). She received an honours BA (2013) and an honours Higher Diploma (2014) from Limerick school of Art and Design. She is a member of Sample Studios and previously of A4 sounds studios. (2015 - 2017)
Kate was a selected graduate for ‘Origins’ in Lismore Castle Arts, November 2021. She is a member of the Artist Collective ‘Inter_Site’ who are supported by a Project Award from the Arts Council, Ireland. (2021) Recent exhibitions include ‘Oileán’ curated by Sinead Barret on Spike Island and Fitzgerald’s Park and ‘Inter_Site’ at the Marina Market, Cork City. (2021)
She was a selected artist for ‘And, if we observe the present’ Catalyst Arts ,Belfast as part of Future(s), Belfast Photo Festival, 2021. She was artist in resident at Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre 2020 and 2021, where she held two open studio exhibitions at the cumulation of the residencies. She exhibited in ‘A soft rupture’, GOMA, Waterford and ‘Standstill’ in Uillinn: WCAC. (2021)
She received a travel and training award for a residence in Lasanna, Nepal in 2017 and was selected for an interactive international project 'Building Bridges' (2017 - 2019) which toured Delhi, Kolkotta and Bangalore, India and Yangnon, Myanmar.
Kate had a solo exhibition in Clonakilty Community Arts Centre (2016) and a two person show ‘Plexus’ in Galway City Gallery (2017). She performed in ‘Livestock’, in the Complex Dublin (2016) and had a four person show ‘We Occupy Space’ in Mart Gallery where she performed a durational performance over the course of the show. (2016) Kate exhibited in the RDS awards (2013) and was longlisted (2021).
Kate is the Public Engagement Artist in Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre and is an Arts facilitator with Sample Studios.
Studio Residency
Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre, 2020
Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre, 2020
Exhibitions
Upcoming
Lismore selected Graduate Show, Waterford, 6 November, 2021
'In Cahoots with the Earth', A4 Sounds Studios, Dublin 8, December 2021
2021 -
'Oileáin', curated by Sinead Barrett, Spike Island, 24 September
'A soft rupture' Goma, Waterford City, 15 July - 22 August, 2021
'And, if we observe the present', Catalyst Arts Centre, as part of Belfast Photo Festival, 3 June - 10 July, 2021
Standstill', Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre, 5 June - 10 July, 2021
'Inter_Site' The Marina Market, Cork City, June 2021
'Open Insite' Open Studio Exhibition, Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre, 19 June - 10 July, 2021
Oileáin', Lord Mayors pavilion, Fitzgearld's Park, Cork as part of Cork Harbour festival, 20 May - 5 June. Curated by Sinead Barrett
'Com,ma', window exhibition, 46 Grand parade, January - 27 February, 2021
Past
Selected solo show
‘Affectual Occurrence'’, Open Studio Exhibition, Uillinn: West Cork Art’s Centre, 2020
'Effusion', Clonakilty Community Arts Centre, Cork, November 2016.
2 person show
'Plexus' by Kate McElroy and Jan Powell, Galway City Gallery, 15 New Dock Road, Galway, 2016.
2020 - Selected group shows
'Com,ma', Masters Show, 56 Grand Parade, Cork City
‘A window into, A window onto’, Culture night display, 56 Grand Parade, Cork City.
‘Outdraw’, Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre, Skibbereen, Cork City.
2019 - Selected group shows
‘Winter Showcase’, Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre, Skibbereen, Cork City.
‘Sample Studios Members Exhibition’, The Lord Mayor Pavillion
’10 x 8’, BeFramed, Douglas, Cork.
‘Building Bridges’ Yangon, Myanmar.
‘The Divine Feminine’, L.S.A.D., Limerick City.
2018 - Selected group shows
'Building Bridges' - Art Multi-Disciplines, Kolkata, India. 10 - 30 January.
Art Konsult, Delhi, India. 2 - 12 Febuary.
Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore, India. 17 - 28 March.
2017 - Selected Group shows
Collaborative Performance at Nexus Culture Nepal, Patan, Kathmandu, Nepal, 15 November 2017.
Open studio and exhibition, Nexus Culture Nepal, 15 - 17 November, 2017.
'Remix' Music and Art Gallery, Laltipur. Nepal. 15 - 30 September.
'The studio classroom' Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. 25 May - 2 June.
'K- fest' Killorglin, Co. Kerry. 2 - 6 June.
'Foot by foot', Strule Arts centre, Omagh, Tyrone. 26 January - 11 February.
2016 - Selected group shows
'Foot by foot',Higher Bridges Gallery, Enniskillen, Fermanagh. 16 December - 17 January.
'We Occupy Space', Mart Gallery, Rathmines Road Lower, Dublin 6. 18 - 28 November.
Performed at Gallery weekend. Mart Gallery, Rathmines Road Lower, Dublin 6. 28 November.
Performance at Livestock, 'Body Talk' - curated by Katherine Nolan, The Complex, Little Green street, Dublin. 4 November.
Art fair, Columban hall, Sea Road, Galway. 14 - 16 October.
'Kon - fluhks', 406 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122-4148, United States. 16 September.
Culture Night, A4 Sounds studios, St. Joseph's Parade, Dublin 1.
Galway Fringe Festival, Columban Hall, Sea Road, Galway City.
K- Fest, Kilorglin, Co. Kerry.
'1916 Sackville Street', Botanical gardens, Dublin 9.
'Raw', Catalyst art centre, Belfast.
'Foot by foot', Higher bridges gallery, Fermanagh.
2015 - selected group shows
'Winter Show', Damer House Gallery, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary.
'This forever (together we raised them hell)' No. 1 Chapel Court Lane, Limerick City.
'Art for refugees' A4 Sounds studios, St Josephs Parade, Dublin.
'The studio classroom,' Mary immaculate college, Limerick City.
A4 studios culture night exhibition, St. Josephs Parade, Dublin.
Galway Fringe Festival, Galway City Gallery.
2014 – selected group shows
‘Foot by Foot’, Higher Bridges Art Gallery, Enniskillen, Fermanagh.
‘7 x 5’, 69 O’ Connell Street, Limerick City.
‘Personal space’, The hive emerging, Waterford City.
‘Battery’, Foundation 14, Tullamore, Co. Offally.
‘Enniskillen Visual Arts open’, Higher Bridges Gallery, Enniskillen, Fermanagh.
2013 - selected group shows
‘RDS Student art awards’, Luan Gallery, Athlone, Westmeath.
‘RDS student art awards’ , RDS horse show, Dublin 4.
‘Overture’ Exhibition of selected graduates, Damer house Gallery, Roscrea, Tipperary.
‘V*A*P*I*D’ Video Artistic Photographic Imagery Displays, La Cat Salon, Cathedral Studios, 11 St. Augustine Street, Dublin 8.
‘Odyssey’, LSAD degree show, Limerick school of art and design.
2012 - Selected group shows
‘New Ceramics’, Blueberry Galley, Castletroy, Limerick.
‘New Ceramics’, Limerick Printmakers Gallery, Limerick.
'Plate exhibition', L.I.T., Moylish, Limerick.
Awards
Project Award, Arts Council Ireland, 2021.
Travel and training award, Arts Council Ireland, October 2017.
RDS, Student Art Awards Exhibitor. 2013.
Residencies
Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre, April - June 2021
Uilinn: West Cork Arts Centre, June - July, 2020
Artist in resident at Nexus Culture Nepal, Patan, Kathmandu, Nepal, Oct - Nov, 2017.
Artist Talks
Interactive Artist talk - Residency overview, Nexus Culture Nepal, 17 November 2017.
Introduction to Art practice, NeXus Culture Nepal, October 2017.
Artist talk, A4 sounds studios, Dublin. May 2017
Artist talk, 'Occupy Space'. Ormston house, Limerick City, November 2016.
Presented at Visual artist cafe, DLR Lexicon, Dun Laoighre.
Guest lecturer, Mary Immaculate College.
Memberships - current:
Studio member of Sample studios, Cork City
Member of Catalyst Arts, Belfast
Professional member of Visual artists Ireland
Past: Studio member of A4 sounds studios - St. Joseph's parade, Off Dorset Street, Dublin 1.
Experience
Current - Public Engagement Artist at Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre
Past - News and media manager - at A4 sounds studios. 2016 - 2017.
Gallery assistant and press officer– Occupy space gallery, Limerick. 2011 - 2015.
Teaching experience
Visiting Artist, in association with Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre, various primary and secondary schools 2019 - present
Visiting Artist, for 'Creative careers' programme with Sample Studios, various secondary schools, Cork City 2020 - present
Photography facilitator, for 'Photogo', with Sample Studios, various secondary schools, Cork City 2020
Visiting Artist, Creative schools, Sacred Heart Secondary School, Clonakilty, January - March 2020
Art Teacher, St. Brigid's Secondary School, New Street, Killarney. 2018 - 2019
Art Teacher, St. Tiernans Community School, Balally, Dundrum, 2016 - 2017.
Art and ceramics teacher - various nursing homes, Dublin. 2016 - 2017.
Art Facilitation, Portfolio preparation course, Rua Red Gallery, Tallaght. 2016.
Art Teacher, St Thomas special Eduaction centre, Dublin. 2016.
Art Facilitator, The Aislinn centre, Dublin. 2016.
Guest lecturer – For second year art elective, Mary immaculate college, Limerick. 2015.
Art Teacher, Scoil Caramel, Limerick. 2013 - 2014.
Art Teacher, Limerick printmakers gallery. 2011 - 2013.
