Person Presence Perception

Since the late 1990s, the Office of Public Works (OPW) and the Department of Finance, Northern Ireland (DoF) have worked in partnership organising an annual touring art exhibition. The purpose of this cross-border initiative is to create public awareness and access to artworks in both public-owned collections. The exhibitions have toured numerous venues across the island bringing both collections to new audiences. The exhibitions are based on different themes every year.

The focus of this exhibition is people and the many ways they are represented in artworks. The forty one artworks by forty artists reflect humanity and how people are portrayed throughout the collections, using a variety of media including paintings, photographs, prints and sculpture. Each artwork spotlights the vision of the artist whilst celebrating the people that make up everyday life now and in times past.

Both of my drawings were purchased from the RUA Annual Exhibition by the Department of Finance, Northern Ireland. It is wonderful to see these two pieces being widely exhibited around the country. This joint OPW/NICS art exhibition travelled to the Burnavon in Cookstown (September 2022) and the Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise (Oct – Nov 2022), Kilmallock Library, Co. Limerick (Dec - Mar 2023. It will then travel to the Main Guard, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary from mid-March to end April 2023. The Armagh County Museum in May where it will close mid-June 2023. Its final location is in the Casino Marino, North Dublin until November 2023.