Exhibition for April 2024:
The Gallery in Mountmellick Library is delighted to host for the month of April ‘Meanderings of a Colourful Mind’, an exhibition of paintings by Olivia O’Keeffe, Martina Furlong and Marja van Kampen. The exhibition will launch on Tuesday 2nd April at 6 pm. Guest speaker is Dr. Arthur Broomfield, Poet Laureate for Mountmellick. All are welcome.
The theme of this colourful exhibition is ‘ The landscape of the imagination through the exploration of colour’.
All three artists have a strong connection with the land and with landscape.
Whether it is a fantasy landscape of the imagination, a landscape interwoven with memories, or one that is formed through the expression of emotions.
The exhibition reflects each artist’ creative journey.
Exhibition for March 2024:
The Gallery in Mountmellick library is delighted to host for the month of March the artist, Oksana Rohovska’s exhibition: “The Edge of the Heavenly Realms through the eyes of my soul”. Oksana is a talented Ukrainian artist and studied at the Lviv National Academy of Arts in her native Western Ukraine. Her pieces are in wool, oil, acrylic oil and pastels and she is inspired and attracted by nature, especially flowers. All are welcome!
Exhibition for February 2024:
The Gallery is delighted to host The People & Places Exhibition: A Selection from the Kenrick Photo Collection 1895 – 1915. The Kenrick Photo Collection is the work of amateur photographer Patrick Kenrick who produced over 830 plate glass negative images of family life, social occasions, sporting events and community gatherings. Pop into the library during opening hours in February to view the collection!
Exhibition for January 2024:
The Old School Art Collective consists of local artists Kevin McCann, Mike Rafter and Antoinette Breen. This exhibition showcases three distinct art styles and will be running in The Gallery at Mountmellick Library for the month of January. Why not pop into the gallery and be inspired for the New Year. Fáilte roimh cách.
Exhibition for December 2023:
The Gallery in Mountmellick is delighted to host for the month of December the Spikey Jar Art group. Based in their studio in Timahoe these Laois based artists art is inspired by their journeys in Ireland and are in a range of media. The exhibition will launch on Tuesday 5th December at 6 p.m.-all re welcome to attend. The artists work in a range of media including textiles, painting, mixed media, photography, and collage. They been working and exhibiting together for 12 years from their studio in Timahoe, Co. Laois. They have always been inspired by their journeys through Ireland. The current exhibition is inspired by our varied life journeys and the paths we’ve taken together. The exhibition celebrates both our individuality and our shared experiences.
Exhibition for November 2023:
The Gallery in Mountmellick Library are delighted to host for the month of November the Shutterbugs Photography Exhibition. All are welcome to the exhibition launch on Tuesday 7th Nov Shutterbugs launch at 6pm.
Exhibition for October 2023:
Laois based artist Aileen O’Donovan will be launching her exhibition “All Endings Have a Beginning” on Tuesday October 3rd at 6 p.m. in the Gallery in Mountmellick Library. All are welcome. Aileen uses mixed media to bring 3-d effects to her paintings and is inspired by her environment and nature. If you can’t some to the launch then drop in to the library to view the exhibition for the month of October.
Exhibition for September 2023:
Navigation: A Multimedia Exhibition by Artist Hazel Restrick
Dates: September 6th to September 30th, 2023
Launch: September 5th 6.00 p.m. All are welcome.
Venue: Mountmellick Art Gallery
Artist Hazel Restrick invites art enthusiasts and the community to experience “Navigation,” a captivating multimedia exhibition that delves into the artist’s quest to find her place in the world. The exhibition will be held at Mountmellick Art Gallery from September 6th to September 30th, 2023.
Hazel Restrick, a Laois-based artist who holds an Honours Degree in Fine Art Painting from Limerick School of Art and Design, presents a collection of works inspired by the intricate interplay between natural and manmade environments. With an innate fascination for the architecture of ‘place,’ Hazel’s artworks explore the profound connections between these spaces and our inherent sense of belonging.
“Navigation” is the result of Hazel’s meticulous research into both ancient and modern mapmaking, combined with her innovative use of found materials. Her creative process spans sculpting, photography, sketching, and writing—each method employed to delve into the realm of imaginary spaces. The journey through these diverse mediums culminates in the emergence of a final, thought-provoking image that captivates the viewer’s imagination.
The exhibition is made possible through the generous support of Mountmellick Library and has been awarded funding under the Arts Act Grant by Laois Arts Office, Laois County Council.
Join us at the Mountmellick Art Gallery to experience the world through Hazel Restrick’s artistic lens. This exhibition is not only a visual delight but also an opportunity to reflect on the profound nuances of the spaces we inhabit.
For more information about the artist and her works, visit Hazel Restrick’s official website: www.hazelrestrick.com
About Hazel Restrick:
Hazel Restrick is an accomplished artist who graduated with an Honours Degree in Fine Art Painting from Limerick School of Art and Design as a mature student. Her work focuses on exploring the connections between natural and manmade ‘places’ and how they shape our sense of belonging. Hazel employs a diverse range of artistic techniques, including sculpting, photography, sketching, and writing, to create her compelling artworks.
Exhibition for August 2023:
The Gallery in Mountmellick library is delighted to host Mountmellick Heritage Society’s local history exhibition “Reminiscences of Mountmellick” for the month of August. Why not drop in during library opening hours?
Exhibition for July 2023:
The Gallery in Mountmellick Library is delighted to host from 4th to 29th July, the artist Antoinette Breen with her exhibition, “Lean Into the Mountain”. The launch will be on Tuesday 4th July at 6.30 p.m. where there will be poetry and music-all are welcome!
Exhibition for June 2023:
The Gallery in Mountmellick Library is delighted to host from 6-30th June, “Time Exhibition” by Laois Quilters. All are welcome to view the exhibition during library opening hours. There will also be a raffle draw for a beautiful double bed quilt to benefit Family Carers Ireland.
Exhibition for May 2023:
The Gallery in Mountmellick Library is delighted to host for the month of May, Heather and Nadia Rice. The exhibition will consist of ink drawings, photographs and textile Wild Flowers from the Slieve Bloom Mountains. The wildflowers chosen all have traditionally been valued for their healing powers. The exhibition will launch of Tuesday May 2nd at 6.30 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
Exhibition for April 2023:
The Gallery in Mountmellick Library is delighted to host for the month of April the Kildare based artist Faye Cummins. The exhibition will launch on Tuesday 4th April at 6.30 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Faye says” I love texture, colour, wild images and whatever my brain decides it wants to come up with next”. The exhibition will be open for the month of April during library opening hours.
Exhibition for March 2023:
The Gallery in Mountmellick Library is delighted to host for the month of March the Laois based artist Orla McDonagh. The collection represents those marginalised in society, living and looking alternative. The pieces are acrylic painted works and ceramic pieces and have not been exhibited before. All are welcome to attend. The exhibition will be open for the month of March during library opening hours.
Exhibition for February 2023:
The Gallery in Mountmellick Library will be delighted to host for the month of February the artist Siobhán Parkinson. Siobhán engages the power of imagination, dream-work and meditation to inspire her creative visions. From an early age she found her easiest expression came through pens, pencils and a drawing pad. Conveying her inner worlds through illustration she continued to grow and nurture a style uniquely hers. With a strong theme of nature, human spirit and the mysteries of the interconnectedness of all life, her pieces carry deep spiritual messages. Opening night for the exhibition is Tuesday 7th February, 6.30pm. It will be an evening of sound, light and soulful, heartfelt words. Siobhán will be hosting a sound experience with guided meditation followed by words inspired by the artwork and spoken by the Mountmellick Writers Group. All are welcome.
Call for submissions for The Gallery at Mountmellick Library
Calling all artists working in any and all materials, media, styles, genres, themes and concepts to submit proposals for exhibitions for The Gallery at Mountmellick Library.
The Gallery aims to provide exhibition space to local, national and international artists. Submissions are welcome from new and emerging artists as well as established artists.
The Gallery is part of the innovative library which was opened in May 2010 by Laois County Council. Housed in a public building, the Gallery offers an exciting opportunity for artists to bring their work to a new audience.
Offering three interlinked but separate spaces, the Gallery encompasses almost 80m2 of exhibition space.
Email: mountmellicklibrary@laoiscoco.ie
Guidelines for Artists using the Gallery
Art Gallery Diagram
The Gallery Exhibition Application Form