Sinead McKillican     

Biography

 

Sinéad Mckillican is an Irish abstract artist, from the Shannonside City of Limerick. Having studied at the Limerick School of Art and Design (TUS) Sinead received a BA (1st Hons) in Painting (2020). Sinéad transitioned from a career as an architectural technician to a visual artist over several years. Experiences, skills, and knowledge gleaned from these activities blend seamlessly into Sinéad’s contemporary practice. Currently, Sinéad has work included in the 193rd RHA Annual Exhibition, RHA Gallery, Dublin, D02 A213. Previously, Sinéad had work exhibited at the Sailors Home, Limerick (The Oobleck Collective), Collect Art (Circle’), Tbilisi, Georgia, Syria & Turkey Fundraiser (Virtual Exhibition),  LCGA, Limerick City Gallery of Art (‘Pulse’), Limerick Summerfest, Limerick Racecourse; The Courthouse Gallery & Studios, Ennistymon, Co. Clare; Art Mad, Limerick; Limerick School of Art & Design for ‘SVITLO’; Belltable, Limerick; Limerick City Gallery of Art; The Hunt Museum, Limerick; RHA, Dublin; Circuit Art, Galway and K-Fest, Killorglin Co Kerry. In 2020 Sinead was shortlisted for the RDS Visual Art Award. Some of Sinead’s awards include works purchased by LCGA, Limerick and The Hunt Museum.

Artists Statement

Sinead McKillican’s quasi-neoplastic art lies at the heart of her creative practice. It is a liberating art form favoring personal expression over literal representation. Having previously worked as an architectural technician, Sinéad has honed many skills and gained a wealth of knowledge that informs and shapes her process-based art practice. Geometric shapes frame Sinéad’s work, with forms giving structure to materials. Colour utilized by Sinéad in the work sustains transformative and sensory qualities. Through a dynamic interplay between hand and head, Sinéad explores and transforms materials, surfaces, shapes, and color. Activities culminating in the construction of non-objective outcomes that fall into the realm of ‘expanded painting’. Modernist and minimalist techniques employed in Sinéad's work echo the pared-down language of the progressive 20th century artists, offering the viewer an opportunity to escape the complexities of contemporary life and reflect on the visual realities contained in her work. These could simply be a line, a shape, a color, and or a surface; elements intended to ‘…. induce or intensify the viewers natural desire for contemplation without the benefit of a guiding principle’ [quote by John McLaughlin]. A preoccupation with curves dominates Sinéad’s work, particularly the circle. It is a symbol imbued with multiple universal meanings, intuitively connecting the viewer with the work. Ultimately, Sinéad seeks to create visuals that are intended to be celebrated for their aesthetic value, activating a response in the viewer that transcends rational interpretation.

Education

2023         Contemporary Art Academy: Critical Contextual (PG-2) (0nline-UK)

2023         Contemporary Art Academy: Personal Practice (PG-1) (online-UK)

2023         Stained Glass Workshop (Dublin, D03 AE09) (IRL)        

2022         Silkscreen Course with Limerick Printmakers (Limerick, V94 FE06) (IRL)               

2022         Art of Light Art Appreciation, National Gallery of Ireland (Online-IRL)               

2022         Woodwork / Joinery class (Limerick, V94 W6W8) (IRL)              

2020         BA (1ST Hons) Fine Art Painting (LSAD) (TUS) (Limerick, V94 KX22) (IRL)

2016         Art & Design (Diagnostic year) (LSAD) (TUS) (Limerick, V94 KX22) (IRL)

2015         Advanced Art (QQI level 6 Major Award) (Distinction) (LCFE) (V94 P232) (IRL)

2014         Art/Craft & Design (QQI Level 5 Major Award) (Distinction) (LCFE) (V94 P232) (IRL)

 

Curators Choice

2021           The Hunt Museum, Limerick (IRL)

 

Group Exhibitions

2023         193rd RHA Annual Exhibition, RHA Gallery, Dublin, D02 A213

2023         The Oobleck Collective, Sailors Home, Limerick

2023         ‘Circle’ Collect Art, Tbilisi, Georgia (Virtual Exhibition)

2023         Syria & Turkey Fundraiser (Virtual Exhibition)

2022         The Oobleck Collective, Sailors Home, Limerick

2022         Crescent Shopping Centre, Limerick (LSAD) (TUS)

2022         ‘PULSE’ Summer Exhibition, Limerick City Gallery of Art (V94 E67F)

2022         Limerick Summerfest, Limerick Racecourse (V94 K858)

2022         ‘Summer Open’, The Courthouse Gallery & Studios, Ennistymon, Co. Clare

2022         ‘SVITLO’ Limerick Artists for Ukraine (LSAD) (TUS)

2022         ‘Unwrapped’ Limerick City Gallery of Art (LCGA)

2022         (LSAD) (TUS) / Crescent Shopping Centre, Limerick (Collaboration)

2022         Everything Small Exhibition, Belltable, Limerick

2021         191st RHA Annual Exhibition, RHA Gallery, Dublin, D02 A213

2021         K-fest 2021, Killorglin, Co. Kerry

2021         Circuit Arts 2021, Galway

2021         'Winter Open’, The Courthouse Gallery & Studios, (Co. Clare, V95D791) (IRL)

2021         ‘Trasna IX', The Courthouse Gallery & Studios, (Co. Clare, V95D791) (IRL)

2020         Crescent Shopping Centre, Limerick (LSAD) (TUS) (Limerick)(IRL)

2020         ‘Limerick Connections’, Limerick City Gallery of Art (V94 E67F)

2020         ‘Impromptu’ (Online)

2020         ‘Physical Impact’, Limerick City Gallery of Art (V94 E67F)

2020         ‘Impact 2020’ (LSAD) (TUS) (Online)

2019         ‘Underexposed’ (LSAD) (TUS) (Limerick)(IRL)

2019         ‘Variance’ (LSAD) (TUS) (Limerick)(IRL)

2016         ‘Approach’ (LSAD) (TUS) (Limerick)(IRL)

2015         ‘New Beginnings’, (LCFE) (Limerick)(IRL)

2014         ‘Reflections’, (LCFE) (Limerick)(IRL)

Solo Exhibition

2022          Normoyle Frawley Gallery, Art Mad, Limerick

2020          ‘Stimulating Optimism, Limerick City Gallery of Art

2020          'Untitled’, (LSAD) (TUS)

Collections

J2020         Limerick City Gallery of Art (LCGA)

Awards

2022         Recipient of Agility Award, Round2 (Visual Art), The Arts Council of Ireland.

2018         Recipient of the Hunt Museum 2018 Purchase Prize

Publications

2023       

Magazine - ‘Circle’, Special Edition Vol 21, March 2023, Tbilisi, Georgia.

Art Book  - 101 contemporary artists and more...|Volume 2|Collect Art|2023|Georgia.

Other Professional Achievements

2020         Shortlisted for the 2020 RDS Visual Art Awards

Associations

Ormston House Cultural Resource Centre, Limerick, V94 V089

Limerick City Gallery of Art (LCGA), Limerick City, V94 E67F

Visual Artists Ireland (VAI) (IRL)

Limerick Culture and Arts Office ((V94 EH90) (IRL)

126 Artist-Run Gallery & Studios (Galway, H91 NN29)

The Courthouse Gallery & Studio (Co. Clare, V95D791) (IRL)

K-Fest (Killorglin, Co. Kerry)

Work Experience

2022/'23     Volunteering Role: Gallery Assistant at Limerick City Gallery of Art (LCGA)

2020/'21     Volunteering Role: Invigilating for the 39th EVA International

2019/'20     Curatorial involvement in college exhibitions that incorporated my work.

2016/'17     Senior Architectural Technician, Quinn Architects, Limerick

2010 /'15    Self-employed ‘Space & Safety Design

1999/'09     Senior Architectural Technician, Murray O’Laoire Architects, Limerick

1990/'99     Senior Architectural Technician, P.J. Sheahan & Company Ltd., Limerick

1988/'89     Architectural Technician, McColl Architects – London

1988            Architectural Technician, Module 2 Architects – London

Other Qualifications

2012           Revit / Special Purpose Award, Level 6, 10 ECTS Credits (LIT) (TUS) (Limerick, V94 EC5T)

2012           MS Spread Sheet Methods & MS Word Processing (QQI Level 5) (Limerick, V94 EHE6)

2010           Access Auditor Training - Cert of Training (OHAC) (Dublin D08 X8DP)

2009           Safety & Health at Work QQI Level 5 (Limerick, V94 CV66)

1985/'88    Architectural Technician (LIT) (TUS) (Limerick, V94 EC5T)

Media Gallery

2020 Collection

    Media Gallery

    Maquettes

    'Variance' Exhibition April 2019

    Digital Prints

    Contact Me

    12 Greenpark Close S.C.Rd Limerick


    00353868740416


    sineadmckr@gmail.com

     

    @sineadmckillicanart

    Photo: By Studioworks Phototograpy