Person Presence Perception

Since the late 1990s, the Office of Public Works (OPW) and the Department of Finance, Northern Ireland (DoF) have partnered to organise 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 artist's vision while celebrating the people who make up everyday life now and in times past.

Both of my drawings were purchased from the RUA Annual Exhibition by the Arts Council NI on behalf of the Department of Finance, Northern Ireland. I am delighted that these works were exhibited across the country. The joint OPW/NICS art exhibition visited the Burnavon in Cookstown (September 2022), the Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise (October to November 2022), and Kilmallock Library, Co. Limerick (December 2022 to March 2023). It will travel to the Main Guard, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary from mid-March to the end of April 2023, and will be at the Armagh County Museum from May to mid-June 2023. The final venue is Casino Marino, North Dublin.