Visual and Socially Engaged Artist
ARTIST STATEMENT
My practice draws on the exploration of the human body and for purposes of economy and practicality I utilise my own body in the production of my work. The overarching themes of bodily autonomy, materiality, body politics and identity reoccur in various forms and physical expression. My interest in biomorphic structures stem from childhood experiences exploring my rural surroundings which shaped and developed my understanding and respect of a natural landscape analogous to the human body. Palestinian born artist Mona Hatoum and Polish born Magdalena Abakanowicz have both inspired my thought process in the development of a political aesthetic within my sculpture, while the literature of French feminist Luce Irigaray, informs the narrative of my work. My practice addresses the essence of human form through my own haptic sensibility of self.
BIO
Fionnuala McKenna. b.1964, Leitrim Ireland. Fionnuala studied Women’s’ Art studies at DIT 1995, and pursued a BA in Fine Art at GMIT, CCAM where she graduated with distinction in 1998. She was awarded student of the year in Sculpture, the recipient of the Walsh Waste Award. Her first Public Art Commission (% Scheme) was in Waterford, 1999 and was short listed for two further Public Art commissions in Castlerea and Omagh. In 2000 she received the Arts Council ‘Artist in the Community Award in Co. Mayo. Her work has been included in many groups shows, Galway Arts Centre, Customs House Studios, Westport, Leitrim Sculpture Centre Manorhamilton, General Hospital Castlebar, Co. Council Offices Carrick on Shannon, Roe Valley Arts Centre Limavady and Uccio Biondi, Studio, Ceglie Messapica, Puglia, Italy. In 2018 after a period of absence from her practice where she focused on raising her family, she returned to CCAM to earn a master’s in creative Practice. In 2022 she moved to Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary
CIRRICULUM VITAE
Education
MA, Creative Practice, CCAM, GMIT 2017-2019
Diploma, Fine Art Sculpture, CCAM, GMIT 1996-1998
Certificate, Women's Art Studies, DIT 1994-1995
Foundation in Film making, IFC. Dublin 1994
Higher Diploma, Drama Studies , UCD 1993-1994
Diploma, Montessori Teaching, St. Nicholas College. 1984
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Artistic Merits
2023 - Artist in residence, Maison d'Art Contemporain Briech, Asilah, Morocco
2023 - Arts in Education. TAP/BLAST residencies.
2023 - Sculpture Award, Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme
2023 - Awarded Arts Council of Ireland Agility Award.
2022 - Arts in Education. TAP/BLAST residencies.
2022 - Owner of Limestone Studios. Cloughjordan. Co Tipperary.
2022 - Participating Artist Peeling Back the Layers Exhibition, Limestone Studios, Cloughjordan.
2022 - Curator Peeling Back the Layers. Mixed media Exhibition. Limestone Studio, Cloughjordan.
2022 - TAP trained (teacher artist partnership) Education Centre Limerick
2021 - Community Artist, Artsquad, Mayo Co. Council
2020 - Community Artist, Artsquad, Mayo Co. Council
2019 - Master's in creative Practice CCAM/GMIT
2010 - Group Exhibition. Uccio Biondi, Ceglie Messapica, Puglia, Italy
2006 - Arts Manager/Artistic Director, Lismarraine Arts Centre Ltd. Co. Mayo.
2006 - Group exhibition Custom House Studios, Westport. Co. Mayo.
2006 - Group Exhibition, Roe Valley, Limavady, Derry
2005 - Open Circle, group Christmas show. L.S.C. Manorhamilton. Co. Leitrim
2005 - Chairperson of Open Circle.
2005 - Open Circle, local artist group. Exhibition at L.S.C. Manorhamilton.
2005 - Tutor with Community Media Training Centre, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim.
2004 - Shortlisted for Public Art commission, Omagh Arts Centre, Co. Tyrone
2004 - Shortlisted for Public Art commission, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon.
2000 - Group Art Exhibition, Leitrim County Council, Carrick-on-Shannon. Co. Leitrim
2000 - Director, Arts Festival, Drumshambo, Co. Leitrim, Partnership
2000 - Mayo Artists Panel Group Exhibition, Mayo General Hosp.
2000 - Artist in the Community award. Arts Council of Ireland
1999 - Private Commission / Bronze
1998 - Awarded Artists Tax Exemption
1998 - Art Award, Waterford Corporation, Public Commission.
1998 - Solo Show Westport Arts Festival
1998 - Diploma Sculpture G.M.I.T. Distinction. Galway.
1998 - Awarded Student of the Year. Walsh Award.
1995 - Certificate in Women's Art Studies. DIT
1991 - Founder of Irish Focus, Irish Film Promotion Company. Boston/Ireland
1990 - Founder and artistic Director of New Irish Theatre. Boston.