"Portal" - oil on linen, 2021 - 20 cm x 20 cm
About
Irene Uhlemann lives and works in Ireland.
She studied Fine Art in Dun Laoghaire School of Art & Design (now IADT) and completed a teaching diploma in the National College of Art and Design in Dublin. A life-changing accident put her practice on hold for some time. Since returning she has participated in group shows and had her second solo exhibition in Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in 2018. This show was inspired by Ted Hughes’ “Crow” poems. She participated in a print show in Belfast in 2018 where she exhibited prints of her crow series.
In 2019 she spent a short residency in Cill Rialig Project. She has exhibited in Ireland, the UK and the USA. Although primarily a painter, she also makes artist books; some have been exhibited in the US and Ireland.
A project I began over two years ago was in response to the Mother & Baby homes scandal in Ireland. The names of 796 babies/children came to light in Tuam, Co. Galway after a local historian discovered their death certificates. I was horrified and felt compelled to do something. I began an artist book, listing their names and decorating the book. I started 3 times. Two years on it is almost finished and I've made a material covered box to house the book. It has yet to be sewn. There are 100 pages, including the covers, each page is 51 cm x 31 cm. In it, the names of the Tuam babies are listed and on opposite pages quotes from those who were sent to these homes. It is decorated with a painted bindweed motif throughout, painted portraits of babies and children, all done with acrylic and 23.5 carat gold leaf is used throughout. Purple, the colours of aristocracy/elites is used. I'm hoping to launch this book in 2023.
SELECTED GROUP SHOWS
2023 Member’s Group Show, MART.ie, Old Fire Station, Rathmines, Dublin, Ireland
2020 Kalamazoo Book Arts Centre, Michigan, USA
2018 Group Show- Higgins Gallery, Malone House, Belfast, NI
2017 “Cirque des Oiseaux”, Higher Bridges Gallery, Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
2016 “Cirque des Oiseaux”, Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland
2016 “Longitude, Latitude, Elevation” an Artists Book exhibition in Oregan, USA (July)
“The Tiny Book Show, Travelling Artist’s Book Show culminating in a show of miniature books in Texas in the autumn.
2015 VAI Conference, IMMA, Dublin
Zine Fair, Chocolate Factory Art Centre, Kings Inn Street, Dublin
“The Crow Show”, the Studio Door, San Diego, USA
2014 “Contributor” 365 Days of Handwriting: International Bookbinding & Documentation of Cursive Handwriting Project by Mary Kritz
30th Anniversary Exhibition, Temple Bar Gallery & Studios, Dublin
2013 NAStudio 30th Anniversary Exhibition, Dublin 7
2013 Leitrim Sculpture Centre, Annual Show
2012 “Ensemble” NAStudio, Mary’s Abbey, Dublin, Ireland
2012 “Wish You Were Here”, New Art Studio, Mary’s Abbey, Dublin,
2008-09 Visual Artists Exhibition, Ranelagh Arts Festival, Dublin
1994 Aris, Temple Bar Gallery and Studios, Dublin
1993 Very Special Arts Exhibition, Japan, Washington USA
1991 Group Show, Westbury Gallery, Dublin
Christmas Show, Westbury Gallery, Dublin
1990 Fusion 90, Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda,
Boyle Arts Festival, Ireland
Mail Art, Cork Summer Festival
1989 Showcase, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin
1986 Slide Show, WAAG (Women's Art Action Group) Project Art Centre, Dublin
1984 Temple Bar Rates Show, Temple Bar Gallery, Dublin
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2018 Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland
2013-2017 NAStudio Project Space, Dublin, Ireland, (each year from 2013-2017)
1992 Almost Full Circle, Temple Bar Gallery, Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland
RESIDENCIES
2019 Cill Rialig Project, Co. Kerry
2018 Inishlacken Project, Roundstone, Co. Galway
2023 Member’s Group Show, MART.ie, Old Fire Station, Rathmines, Dublin, Ireland
2020 Kalamazoo Book Arts Centre, Michigan, USA
2018 Group Show- Higgins Gallery, Malone House, Belfast, NI
2017 “Cirque des Oiseaux”, Higher Bridges Gallery, Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
2016 “Cirque des Oiseaux”, Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland
2016 “Longitude, Latitude, Elevation” an Artists Book exhibition in Oregan, USA (July)
“The Tiny Book Show, Travelling Artist’s Book Show culminating in a show of miniature books in Texas in the autumn.
2015 VAI Conference, IMMA, Dublin
Zine Fair, Chocolate Factory Art Centre, Kings Inn Street, Dublin
“The Crow Show”, the Studio Door, San Diego, USA
2014 “Contributor” 365 Days of Handwriting: International Bookbinding & Documentation of Cursive Handwriting Project by Mary Kritz
30th Anniversary Exhibition, Temple Bar Gallery & Studios, Dublin
2013 NAStudio 30th Anniversary Exhibition, Dublin 7
2013 Leitrim Sculpture Centre, Annual Show
2012 “Ensemble” NAStudio, Mary’s Abbey, Dublin, Ireland
2012 “Wish You Were Here”, New Art Studio, Mary’s Abbey, Dublin,
2008-09 Visual Artists Exhibition, Ranelagh Arts Festival, Dublin
1994 Aris, Temple Bar Gallery and Studios, Dublin
1993 Very Special Arts Exhibition, Japan, Washington USA
1991 Group Show, Westbury Gallery, Dublin
Christmas Show, Westbury Gallery, Dublin
1990 Fusion 90, Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda,
Boyle Arts Festival, Ireland
Mail Art, Cork Summer Festival
1989 Showcase, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin
1986 Slide Show, WAAG (Women's Art Action Group) Project Art Centre, Dublin
1984 Temple Bar Rates Show, Temple Bar Gallery, Dublin
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2018 Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland
2013-2017 NAStudio Project Space, Dublin, Ireland, (each year from 2013-2017)
1992 Almost Full Circle, Temple Bar Gallery, Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland
RESIDENCIES
2019 Cill Rialig Project, Co. Kerry
2018 Inishlacken Project, Roundstone, Co. Galway
(above) four views of accordion book included in Impressions Expo in Galway. Abstract shapes printed directly onto paper and impressions taken of bird feathers.