2022 Artist Biography Sinéad Ni Chionaola
I was born in Co. Waterford to a family which valued music, art, literature and, languages.
When I finished school I studied in The Crawford College of Art & Design, in Cork. During my time there my influences included Impressionism, Rothko, Hughie O Donoghue, and Brian Maguire.
One of the defining moments in my early career was when I visited Russia in my final year in college. The experience of seeing the real work of Matisse in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg had a profound effect on my artistic process. In his painting ‘The Dance’ the subject matter shows how he is influenced by his predecessors. His interpretation of the subject matter uses stylized figures, sparsely painted in bold and vibrant colours. This painting freed me from the constraints of representational art.
In the early nineties, fellow artist Carmel Cleary and I decided to organise a national touring exhibition. This exhibition started in Ireland, and, visited other countries before it finally reached Adelaide in Australia.
I applied for an artist in residency for the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Canada. Being immersed in and surrounded by nature in the Rocky Mountains was another defining moment for me. I discovered the joy of doing very quick sketches of the fleeting landscape from the over-sized window of the train which transported me from Vancouver to Calgary.
Recently I have had an opportunity to fully embrace the online experience during lockdown, I updated my website and increased my online visibility. I receiver a Trading Online Voucher to upgrade my cv for e-commerce. I participated in the Artist Support Pledge. It was created to provide support for artists in a time of crisis.
Part of my online experience has been receiving an award of special Recognition Category for Excellence in Art. For my painting ‘On Pause,’ This was curated by and celebrated the 10th Anniversary of www.lightspacetime.art 2020.
My career as a visual artist has spanned 35 years. My work forms part the OPW collection, and private collections in Ireland, Europe, Switzerland, and America.
Television Appearances:
In 2003 The Irish television company TG4 interviewed me about my art residency in Co. Kerry. In 2007 The RTE interior design show Showhouse featured some of my paintings. TG4 approached me and interviewed me for Mol Scéal @TG4TV www.molsceal.ie 2019 video story hub from #TG4
Reviews and Articles:
The Irish Times, The Independent, The Sunday Tribune, Examiner,
Together with local papers in Ireland, Australia, and France.
I have always been inspired by the beauty of nature and the movement and energy of water. I create vibrant abstract expressionist paintings. Over the years to express something specific I have introduced figures into my paintings. The themes are connected by water: light and colour, movement and memory, a sense of presence in a moment in time, and the physicality of the paint in the studio.
Artist Statement Sinéad Ni Chionaola
I am a visual artist based in East Cork, Ireland. I grew up in the coastal town of Dungarvan. Co. Waterford. Nestled between the Sea and the Mountains. Surrounded by nature in all its forms: flowing rivers, ebbing seas, and thunderous waterfalls. Each one possessing energy, dynamism, and inspiration. My father was a native Irish speaker from the Ring Gaeltacht and my mother loved Irish so we grew up speaking Irish at home.
A few years ago my life changed over-night. I had to create something new in the ashes of my broken life for myself and my children. In the process, I questioned everything about my life including my voice as an artist. At times, life was been grim, but I relied on my optimism to keep going. Painting became my antidote to grief. My optimism allowed me to create work which is authentic to me. I find light, energy, and beauty in the every-day.
Over many Winter mornings, driving the back roads to school, I noticed the trees painting their black silhouettes against the rising sun. My daughter took photos which I used as a reference for a series of paintings. During the first lockdown. I walked every day, it was good for my soul. I started to look with renewed attention and appreciation at my locality. I parked my car at the side of the road and painted the landscape. I went to my local beach and painted there as the sun was going down. I caught the colour reflected in the sky and the sea. I wanted to capture the memories and essence of the places in my work.
In the studio I layer acrylic paint onto the canvas. I use a variety of brushes, a palette knife, and water to blend and spread the paint. I render the natural colours of nature and create my vivid interpretations. I allow the paint to guide me, to be spontaneous. Overnight the paintings dry. With subsequent layers I tend to be more cautious, seeing what I want to retain, omit, emphasise. Titles for my work come to me as I paint and listen to music. I use photos as references for my paintings and preparatory drawings. When I am ready, I draw on the canvas with paint or pencil, sometimes freehand and occasionally with a grid for guidance.
My paintings are manifest memory imbued with energy and positivity.
Sinéad Ní Chionaola 2022
Education
College Qualification
1997-98 National College of Art & Design Honours-Diploma-Art & Design Teachers
1996-97 Crawford College of Art & Design Foundation in Art Therapy
1987-90 Crawford College of Art & Design Distinction-National Diploma Fine Art Painting/Printmaking
1986-87 Waterford Institute of Technology Certificate in Visual Education
Collections
Her work forms part of the OPW collection and in private collections in Ireland, Europe, Switzerland, and America.
Online Exhibitions
2022 Incognito-online exhibition and fundraiser for the Jack and Jill foundation
2021 Contemporary gallery online exhibition (contemporaryartgalleryonline.com)
Incognito- online exhibition and fundraiser for the Jack and Jill Foundation
2020 Online 10th anniversary Exhibition www.lightspacetime.art
3rd annual women artists 15th quarterly art competition juried art exhibition. www.fusionartps.com
Artinmanyforms. Thesilence2020.wordpress.com
Incognito-online exhibition and fundraiser for the Jack and Jill foundation
Group Exhibitions
2021 The Courthouse gallery & studios ‘The Winter Open and Trasna X
Castlemartyr House gallery & gifts. Art Fair
Backwater Artists Group, Winter Salon 2021
2019 Lavit Gallery Member Show
The Doorway Gallery, Dublin
The Half Light Co-operative Youghal Christmas Market
www.ARTBOX.GALLERY Zurich
https://www.artboxprojects.com
The Joan Clancy-Gallery, Celebration of poet laureate John Betjeman
The Old Market House Arts Centre, Dungarvan, Sinéad Ni Chionaola and Helen O Connell
The Half Light Gallery, Midleton, Co Cork
2018 The Doorway Gallery, Dublin,
More than just a Number, Greywood Arts Centre, Co Cork
Anniversary Féte, Greywood Arts Centre, Co Cork
Exhibition at Launch of & inclusion in East Cork Magazine, Cork Airport
Secret Spaces, The Half Light Gallery, Midleton, Co Cork
2017 Midleton Arts Festival
Opening Celebration, Greywood Arts Centre
2013 Cork printmakers@21, The Atrium, City Hall and CIT, Wandesford Quay Gallery, Cork
2010 Tramore Oceanic Surf and Sea Festival
Backwater Twenty, Crawford Art Gallery, Cork
2009 Explorations -from the mountains to the sea. Old Market House Arts Centre, Dungarvan
2008 Art from the East, Sirus Arts Centre, Cobh, Co. Cork
2007/08 Youghal Arts Festival, Co.Cork
2006/07 Open Studio, Cork Art Trail, Killeagh, Co. Cork
2007 Showhouse, presented by Neville Knott, RTE Television, featured my paintings
2006/07 The Lemon Street Art Gallery, Dublin
2003/04 Imagine Arts Festival, Municipal Gallery, Waterford
2003 Cill Rialaig Arts Centre, Co. Kerry
An Tuatha Nua, TG4 Arts program featuring my paintings, process and studio practice
2000 West Cork Arts Centre, Skibbereen, Co. Cork
1998 Taispeantas Ealaíne, Conradh na Gaeilge, Dublin
1997 Eitilt, Waterford Airport
Irish Artists, Wemyss Gallery, Sydney, Australia
1996 Iontas 7, Small Works, National Touring Exhibition, Ireland
1995 Designs for Peace-In Honour of President Bill Clinton’s visit to Ireland, US Embassy, Dublin Crossroads, Symposium, Co. Roscommon, Ireland
1994/96 Rur’Art travelling show, Toured France
Image, Woman, Text, Boole Library, UCC, Cork
Printers Impress, Lavitts Gallery, Cork
Christmas Show, Lavitts Gallery, Cork
1993 Confort Moderne, Poitiers, France
Art Presents, Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Cork
MOE, Monaghan County Museum & Gallery
1992 The Wyvern Gallery, Temple Bar, Dublin
Impression, Spanish Arch Gallery, Galway
Two-person shows
2019 The Old Market House Arts Centre, Dungarvan, S.Ni Chionaola and H.O Connell
1997 Explorations with Carmel Cleary, Gothenburg Irish Arts Festival, Sweden
1996 Explorations with Carmel Cleary, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Australia (secured private funding for the trip)
1995 Explorations with Carmel Cleary- National Touring Exhibition, Ireland.
1991 www.Kevinkavanaghgallery, Explorations with Carmel Cleary, Dublin, Ireland
Solo Exhibitions
2005 The Summer House Gallery, Lismore, Co. Waterford
2003 The Private Collector Gallery, Fredrick St, Dublin
The Old Market House Arts Centre, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
1995 Hidden Horizons Unfolding, The Art Hive, Cork
1993 Cerzeau Arts Festival, France
Presence, Newry Arts Centre Co. Down
Transitions, Cork Regional Dental Hospital
Awards
2007 Documentation grant, Foras na Gaeilge
2000 Travel Award, The Arts Council
1993/95/96/97/98/00 Aer Lingus Art flight, The Arts Council of Ireland
1995 Exhibition Assistance, The Arts Council of Ireland/The Art Hive
1994 Explorations, Touring grant, The Arts Council
1993 Travel Award to France, Department of Foreign Affairs
1993 Residency, Virginia Centre for the Creative Arts, USA
1991 Materials/Documentation grant, The Arts Council of Ireland
Printmaking Studio Feasibility Study, The Arts Council
Residencies
2004 Heinrich Boll Cottage, Achill
2001/02/03 Cill Rialaigh, Kerry
1995/99/01/02 The Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Monaghan
2000 The Banff Centre of Excellence for the Arts, Canada
1997 Old Fire Station Mural Project, Waterford Arts Office
Artist in the Community, Waterford Arts Office
1995 Crossroads Symposium, Roscommon Artist Collective
1994 Artist in Residence, The Art Hive, Cork
1993 Rur’Art Artist Residency, France
1992 Niort Arts Festival, France
Membership
Visual Artists Ireland, Lavit Gallery Cork, United Artist Space, 126 artist run gallery, Backwater Artist Network/BAN
Press
Colette Sheridan, The Cork Examiner, 03/1993 & 09/1995/2020/2021 Christy Parker, Cork Examiner & Dungarvan Observer 2006/2019/2021
Aidan Dunne, The Tribune, 1996 /2001
Alanna Hopkins, The Sunday Times / Culture Ireland, 1996.
Marc Ewart, The Irish Times, 01/1996 & 09/1996.
JN & Robert Dunstan, Adelaide Fringe Publications, 03/1996.
Marianne Hartigan, The Sunday Tribune, 06/2003
Kya de Longchamps, Irish Examiner, 06/2003
Roísín Ingle, The Irish Times. 06/2003
Sophie Gorman, Irish Independent 07/2006, Dungarvan Leader and Observer 06 /2008 & 07/2009
Dungarvan Observer,10/2019
Dónal Buckley, Dungarvan Leader 10/2019
East Cork Visitors’guide 2018 & 2019
Mitre press 1993
Digital presence and contact
www.instagram.com/sineadnichionaola_0682
www.facebook.com/sineadnichionaolaartist
www.greywoodarts.org www.crossingthedissour.ie
A project by Greywood arts- an online journal about the creative process issue #2
www.artboxtalent.com/showit https://www.artboxprojects.com
My artwork was shown digitally on the screen at the ARTBOX.GALLERY in Zurich.