Awarded the Artist’s Residency Programme at IMMA

Dublin born Mary-Ruth Walsh received a B.A. in Fine Art and Art History from the National College of Art and Design Dublin and a Masters Degree at Goldsmiths College University of London. She has been selected for exhibitions nationally and internationally and was awarded the Artist’s Residency Programme in the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) Dublin. She constructed an unusual outdoor performance / exhibition titled Real E-State relating to housing, e-commerce and Jonathan Swift, later shown in CUBEOpen, Manchester. It was supported by IMMA and the Arts Council of Ireland. Walsh co-curated with David Mabb (UK) the exhibition titled Utopia Ltd of UK and Irish artists shown in Wexford Arts Centre and travelled to the Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda. Walsh lives and has her studio in New Ross.

Mary-Ruth Walsh’s work explores ideas of human interaction with architectural space and the manner in which it affects the way we move and behave. The work reveals overlooked or unseen details of our relationships to space through acutely observed drawings, film and sculpture. One of her solo exhibitions related to Eileen Grey (born Enniscorthy) and was titled Strangely Familiar Shades of Grey. Itplayed on Mary-Ruth’s engagement with the creative marvels of malleable functionally of Gray’s architecture and her houses Tempe a Pialle (translates as ‘time and straw’) and the iconic E1027.

Her work is also an exploration of architecture as identity both in the urban and rural sense. Furthermore some of her works and drawings, in a lateral reference to our experience of the world through two-dimensional imagery for example, web and magazines imply a substitution for real experience or real time. Hence, if the viewer chooses to stay and engage with the work, some of its uncanny aspects become apparent and the ideas in the work begin to tease themselves out.

Click on the images below to view ‘Still Life’ within the Collection:

Still Life 1 by Mary Ruth Walsh

Still Life 1 by Mary Ruth Walsh

Still Life 2 by Mary Ruth Walsh

Still Life 2 by Mary Ruth Walsh

Still Life 3 by Mary Ruth Walsh

Still Life 3 by Mary Ruth Walsh

Still Life 4 by Mary Ruth Walsh

Still Life 4 by Mary Ruth Walsh

Still Life 5 by Mary Ruth Walsh

Still Life 5 by Mary Ruth Walsh

Still Life 6 by Mary Ruth Walsh

Still Life 6 by Mary Ruth Walsh

Still Life 7 by Mary Ruth Walsh

Still Life 7 by Mary Ruth Walsh

Still Life 8 by Mary Ruth Walsh

Still Life 8 by Mary Ruth Walsh

Still Life 9 by Mary Ruth Walsh

Still Life 9 by Mary Ruth Walsh

 

Biography

  • MA Fine Art, Goldsmiths College, University of London, UK, (Exhibition and Studio Practice 1.1 Hons)2003-2004
  • BA (Hons) Fine Art & Art History, National College of Art and Design, Dublin (Thesis 1.1 with award),1997-2001

Solo Exhibitions

  • Cross Gallery, Dublin (forthcomming),2015
  • Strangely Familiar Shades of Gray, film scheening, Irish Museum of Modern Art, artist’s response to Eileen Gray Retrospective,2013
  • Nonuments to a New International, Cross Gallery, Dublin,2012
  • Ever dream of owning a house in Dublin? St. Patrick’s Close Developments present…Real E-State, building an estate of houses without planning permission. An outdoor performance-installation, supported by the Arts Council of Ireland & Irish Museum of Modern Art,2011
  • Strangely Familiar Shades of Gray, sculptural, drawing and film response to Eileen Gray, Galway Arts Centre,2011
  • Drawing Out Gray Areas, Process Room, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin,2011
  • Nonuments to the Third International, Garter Lane Gallery, Waterford,2010
  • Still Life, Wexford Arts Centre; commissioned exhibition with interview and panel discussion; chair: Gemma Tipton; reviewed Circa 122,2007  
  • White Goods 3, Sligo Art Gallery,2006
  • White Goods 1, Goethe Institute, Dublin (catalogue),2004

Selected Exhibitions

  • bagga khans, A4art Gallery, Thomas Street, Dublin,2013
  • Beyond the Frontier, artist’s films screened in 19-20th century shop windows, Wexford County Council, curator: Deirdre Southey,2013
  • After & Since, Eileen Gray international tribute exhibition, Newtownbarry House; curator Anya von Gosseln,2013
  • Making a Mark, artist’s notebook exhibition, Port of Waterford Building, Waterford,2013
  • SCOPE, Miami, Cross Gallery,2012
  •  CUBEOpen 2011, Centre for the Urban Built Environment, Manchester. www.cube.org.uk,2011
  • Utopia Ltd, Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda Arts Festival & Wexford Arts Centre – a UK-Irish exhibition, Brendan Earley, Blaise Drummond, Pil & Galia Kollectiv, David Mabb, Lizzie Sanches, M R Walsh. Co-curators David Mabb & MR Walsh,2011  Building Material, The Architectural Association of Ireland, anonline, image-based project http://www.architecturalassociation.ie/blog/sg/second-test/, 2011
  • Pencil to the Plough, Cross Gallery group show: John Beattie. Miriam de Burca. Ian Charlesworth. Felicity Clear. Elizabeth Ellis. Clodagh Emoe. Brian Fay. Joanna Kidney. Marco. Jane Proctor. Tom Ryan PPRHA. Marcel Vidal. Mary Ruth Walsh. Michael Wann.2011
  •  Three Colours Blue, SOMA Contemporary, Waterford,2011
  • Airport for Shadows, Cross Gallery (coinciding with Dublin Contemporary),2011
  • CUBEOpen 2010, Centre for the Urban Built Environment, Manchester. www.cube.org.uk,2010
  • PAR AVION, Parlour No.19, Siena, Italy, www.parlourdoor.com,2010
  •  Structures Within An Intervention, Guild Art Gallery, New York,2010
  •  An Artists Impression, A Curated Publication for the Dock Discourse. Curator Aideen Barry & 126 Gallery, Galway,2010
  • Éigse Retrospective, Visual, Carlow,2010
  • when all through the house, Parlour No11.www.parlourdoor.com,New York City,2009
  • The 2nd Annual 126 Members’ Show, Galway,2009
  • Twosome Twiminds, Oonagh Young Gallery, Dublin, inaugural opening with Shane Bradford UK, Kris Emmerson UK, and Mary-Ruth Walsh Ire,2008
  •  MARK drawings & multiple: Oonagh Young Gallery, Dublin,Shane Bradford, Kris Emmerson, Amanda Coogan, Damien Flood, Ida Mitrani, Clive Murphy, Caroline McCambridge, Mary Ruth Walsh, 2008
  •  Folkatronica, Visual Artists Ireland, The Sugar Club, Dublin,2008
  • 24-hour non-stop-art; Arts Council of Ireland Touring Experiment, Wexford Arts Centre,2008
  • Healing Arts Trust, Waterford Regional Hospital,2008
  •  Seconds : Multiples, Wexford Arts Centre, curator Aileen Lambert,2007
  • Invited Éigse, Carlow, Utopias, curator, Cliodhna Shaffrey (catalogue and Irish Times review),2006
  •  White Goods 2, Iontas Award Exhibition, Sligo Art Gallery (catalogue).,2005
  • Iontas, Sligo Art Gallery,2005
  • Grace, invited exhibition for Rape & Sexual Abuse Centre, Waterford, (catalogue),2005
  • Goldsmith’s College, London, UK. MA Show,2004
  • MA curator’s-on-going-show, Goldsmiths College, London,2004
  • Icescream, Farringdon, London,2004
  • nth art, international group show, OLS&Co Gallery, Mountgrove Rd., London,2003
  • Iontas, National competition touring Nth Ireland, Limerick & Sligo Art Gallery,2003   
  • dedalus, curator, Pádraig Timoney, Context Gallery, Derry, toured Nth Ireland,2002
  • Box 2001, Brian O’Doherty / Patrick Ireland & A Labyrinth in a Box: Aspen 5+6, Mary-Ruth Walsh, Southampton College, New York,2001
  • Degree Show, National College of Art & Design, Dublin (catalogue),2001
  • Odyssey, Group Show, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin (catalogue & coordinated 64-tudent show),2000
  •  Sensationless, Group Show, Vicar St. Dublin,1999
  • Absolute Secret, RHA Gallagher Gallery, Ely Place, Dublin,1998

Awards & Residencies

  • Create National Development agency for Collaborative Arts-reserch,    2013
  • Artlinks Mentoring Award,2013
  • Studio Award,    Artists Residency Programme, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin,2011
  • Arts Council, Visual Art Project,2011
  •  Studio Residency, Basekamp, Philadelphia, USA,2009
  • Airtravel Award, Arts Council of Ireland,2009
  • Airtravel Award, Arts Council of Ireland,2008
  • Wexford County Council Art Collection, juried selection, Ire.2008
  • Media Residency Award, Exercises in Folkatronica, Visual Artists Ire.2006
  • Exhibition Award, Iontas, Sligo Art Gallery, Ire.2004
  • Alsop Building Award, shortlisted, Goldsmith’s College London,2004
  • Wexford County Council, Visual Art Bursary for Post Graduate studies,2004
  • Airtravel Award, Arts Council of Ireland,2001

Selected Bibliography

  • A Century of Memorie: Muckross Park Past Pupils, Brenda Moore-McCann,2012
  •  ‘I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles’, Katherine Waugh, Real E-State essay commissioned by IMMA & supported by the Arts Council of Ireland,2011
  •  Irish Times, And Now Back to the Studio, Gemma Tipton, October 22 p8-9,2011
  • paper visual art journal; Utopia Ltd. Group Show, The Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda, 29 April – 3 August by Kitty Rogers. Seehttp://papervisualart.com/?p=5698,2011
  • Irish Times, It’s only a Paper House, October 13, unpaginated,2011
  •  The Phoenix, State of the Arts, May 6, 2011, p46,2011
  • Dnote; Strangely Familiar Shades of Gray,2011  
  • Utopia Ltd. Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda, catalogue,2011
  • Irish Times Magazine Art Listings, Can’t See That? Catch This, p25,2011
  • Circa Magazine (IRL) Gemma Tipton, p 72-3. Volume 122,2007
  • Irish Times Newspaper (IRL), Aidan Dunne, 14June.2006
  • Circa Web Publication (IRL), Rosie Bennett,2005
  • http://www.recirca.com/reviews/2005/maryruthwalsh/mrw.shtml
  • Goethe Institution & Sligo Art Gallery,(IRL) Rosie Bennett, catalogue,2005
  • Circa Magazine (IRL), p 64, Volume 113, 2005
  • Joyce in Art, The Lilliput Press Ltd. (IRL), Dr. Christa Maria Lerm Hayes, p251,2004
  • Catalogues, various,2000-2013   

PublishedWritings

  • Dematerialised Work with a Senseof Presence, ed Prof Christa-Maria Lerm Hayes. Exploring 4 seminal works by Brian O’Doherty Publishers, Ashgate (forthcoming),2014
  • Unfolding Aspen 5+6, co-written by Katherine Waugh and Mary-Ruth Walsh from a presentation in Whitechapel Gallery, London, 2013, ed Prof Christa-Maria Lerm Hayes. Aspen 5+6 is by Brian O’Doherty. Publishers, Ashgate (forthcoming),2014
  • Body Conscious, essay on a year long programme of 3 exhibitions for Waterford Healing Arts Trust (WHAT),2013
  • O’Doherty Un-Freezes a Beating Heart, VAI March-April,2013
  • Estate of Mind: Walsh Discusses Her Conceptual Installation/Performance, ‘Real E-State’, Visual Artists Ireland, Jan-Febhttp://visualartists.ie/articles/van-januaryfebruary-2012-estate-of-mind/,2012
  • Hints of the Outside World, a SOMA & IMMA publication, SOMA Contemporary Box, Waterford, curated by Paul Hallahan,2011
  • Visual Artists Ireland, How is it Made? Interview with Fergus Byrne,2009
  • Dance Ireland, January issue, re-representation of the body:,2009
  • Visual Artists Ireland, Exercises in Folkatronica, March issue,2007
  • Irish Times: Wonder Walls, by Gemma Tipton; photographs of Patrick    Ireland’s Cassa Dipinta by MR Walsh,2006
  • Catalogue essay, Brian O’Doherty / Patrick Ireland: A Retrospective; inaugural exhibition, Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane,2006
  • Context: Special theme – Art Work, (Volume 4 Issue.2.) Editor: Gemma Tipton,2005
  •  “A labyrinth in a Box: Aspen 5+6”, Special Theme: Word and Image. CIRCA (issue 104) Guest editor: Dr. Christa-Maria Lerm Hayes,2003
  • Ab Initio Diploma in Fine Art, document for Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC), Dept. of Education and Science on behalf of Gorey School of Art, Wexford & Carlow Institutes of Technology,2003
  •  “A Labyrinth in a Box; Aspen 5+6”: Thoughtlines 6, Editor: Dr. Christa-Maria Lerm Hayes. Publiser: The National College of Art & Design, Dublin,2002

Public Work:

  • A Modest Proposal 1, a permanent small blue house at the National Archives Office, Dublin 8, erected without planning permission,2000
  • Ever dream of owning a house in Dublin? St. Patrick’s Close Developments present…Real E-State, see Solo Exhibitions above,2011

Curating – Initiating

  • Utopia Ltd, Irish & UK artists group exhibition co-curated with David Mabb,2011
  • MA Show, Goldsmiths College, London, UK. MA student representative and co-organiser with team of 4. Financed, designed, distributed catalogue, web site, refreshments etc. Attendance: 5,000,2004
  • Odyssey, group exhibition, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin, coordinated & co-curated exhibition of 64 fellow student’s work (catalogue),2000

Seminars, Panels and Public Talks

  • Whitechapel Gallery, London, Unfolding Aspen 5+6, a presentation with Katherine Waugh, 2013
  • Irish Museum of Modern Art, E1027- the house as camera. Screening of film Strangely Familiar Shades of Gray, public talk Dec 2013
  • Irish Museum of Modern Art, Artist in Residency Conversation, with writer, curator and filmmaker Katherine Waugh in explorations of Mary-Ruth Walsh’s recent projects, 2011
  • National College of Art and Design, Real E-State and other Projects: Joint presentation by Katherine Waugh and MaryRuth Walsh, 2011
  • National College of Art and Design, Methodologies explored in my Art Practice, presentation by Mary-Ruth Walsh, 2009 / Cow House Studios, Wexford, 2007 / CREATE, Suberbs and Cities 2, Dublin / Trinity College Dublin, ‘Patrick Ireland Symposium’, Irish Art Research centre (TRIARC) / The Hugh Lane Dublin City Gallery (gallery walkabout) / Still life, Wexford Arts Centre in conversation with Gemma Tipton.

Professional Work Experience

2006 – 2014 Currently lecturing, part-time in Visual Arts, Department of Creative and Performing Arts, Waterford Institute of Technology. Developed and delivering a module on Critical Arts Debates.

Web sitewww.maryruthwalsh.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maryruth.walsh

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryRuthWalsh

Email: maryruthodw@gmail.com

Postal address: Mount Elliott, New Ross, Co. Wexford, Ireland

Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ssu2UKPe1I