'Invisible Cords' is a collection of artwork developed by Kildare based Visual Artist Clodagh Kelly over the last ten years. Clodagh uses drawing, mixed media and natural materials to explore health, landscape, healing and form in space. This exhibition draws from three bodies of artwork 'Scratched Room', 'Cruel Nature' and 'Boundaries' allowing the underlying invisible
‘Sacred Conversation’ explores the seen and unseen cords that underlay our instinctual engagement with art and humanity, the spoken and unspoken words between people. Clodagh Kelly (Visual Artist) and Claire Hawkes (Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist) will discuss the ‘Sacred Conversations’ which permeate our conscious and unconscious interactions with art and humanity. Chris McMahon (The Treatment Room) will
In this drawing workshop with Visual Artist Clodagh Kelly, participants will be invited to take a ‘Cord’ and create an artwork inspired by the materials and the exhibition. Themes from nature may be explored, others may want to look at a personal response to their experience of social media, how we experience choice, materialism, freedom or humanity, the human
This exhibition is an immersive installation inviting you to “get lost in art” and to enter an illuminated space filled with rich colour and light. The pieces are inspired by the beauty of nature and made with discarded ‘rubbish’ of our wasteful society. The exhibition combines new and re-invented creations. Some sculptures invite the visitors
This combined exhibition offers a glimpse into the work of artists Della Cowper-Gray and Brad Gray - Daughter and Dad - and features a small selection of their recent work. Della Cowper Gray’s portrait of her Dad recently won the ‘Overall winner’ category in the Zurich prize held at the National Gallery of Ireland and
A visual art and audio installation by Kildare artist John Conway, translated from his innovative theatre work of the same name, The Ballad of a Care Centre weaves together the life stories of older men and women from the Naas area to form a new narrative which is presented under both a nostalgic and critical
D W E L L I N G S is a new print exhibition in our Foyer Gallery, by artist Gráinne Bath Enright. Gráinne's artwork explores a sense of place and the natural world, urban landscapes and the connections we have to these places, pulling on their history, folklore and the environment. "From the streets to
PopUpArt Newbridge will be popping up all over Newbridge, including an exhibition in the Foyer Gallery at Riverbank Arts Centre, to coincide with June Fest . "We are delighted to be invited back to the Riverbank where a collaboration of 20 Local Artists will showcase their work from June 2nd – 25th" Curator, Eilis Kavanagh. Drop
normal /ˈnɔːm(ə)l/ Following the success of ‘Small Steps’, outdoor exhibition for June Fest 2021, Kildare Art Collective returns with an exhibition of new work, 'Normal', bringing the collective back within the walls of the McKenna Gallery. For this show, artists interpret what Normal means to them. Featuring a diverse range of media such as video,
As part of their ongoing exhibition 'Normal', Kildare Art Collective will host a panel discussion at 6pm on Thursday June 23rd in the McKenna gallery, Riverbank Arts Centre. A number of participating artists will discuss their exhibited work as well as their broader art practice. This event is free but due to limited numbers booking
Riverbank Arts Centre is delighted to welcome Newbridge Youth Training & Development Centre to our Foyer Gallery with their end of year Art Exhibition. "As art is currently taught in education, it leaves a lot to be desired. It is stringent, uninspiring, yet demanding. The students of NYTDC have been given free reign of a
Riverbank Arts Centre welcomes a new exhibition for children, showcasing the breadth of talent in contemporary Irish illustration, while retelling the story of Samhain (Halloween) for a new generation. Two siblings get lost in the woods. There they meet a mysterious traveller and embark on an adventure that sees them encountering a cheeky púca, some
Riverbank Arts Centre welcomes artist Caoimhe McGuckin to the McKenna Gallery with her first solo exhibition Fathom. "Measurement is an ordering principle we use to understand and orient ourselves in time and space. We need dimensions to help us make sense of an otherwise chaotic existence. Tools of measurement serve as reliable objects that keep us in line
Dētrīmentum is a video and photographic installation by Kildare artist Katie Whyte. A Latin word meaning harm, loss, or damage, Dētrīmentum is an exploration of the journey of an object from an intact historical/archival piece, to an object that has fallen into disrepair and out of the collective memory. This installation focuses on presenting hidden
Tamzen Lundy’s colourful exhibition FIBRE Felted introduces young people to the wonders and possibilities of felt making, the oldest textile making process in the world. Using 100% wool (and sometimes other natural fibres), soap and water plus rubbing, rolling and a little magic, the artist creates intriguing 2D and 3D objects and many familiar characters
In 2022 artist Clodagh Kelly led an artist residence programme at Riverbank Arts Centre, supported by the Kildare County Council Arts Service First Fortnight Award, in partnership with First Fortnight. Women of diverse ages, arts experiences and social backgrounds participated in the residency which resulted in Freedom of Choice - a body of work which
A Daily Cloud is an interactive exhibition created by artist Chris Judge, based on his online cloud drawings. Chris started making the cloud drawings during the first Covid-19 lockdown in the Summer of 2020. He was spending a lot of time in the garden with his wife and young children, turning the garden into a
The most familiar space, the one that has been the stimulus for much artistic enquiry, be it visual or otherwise, has been the domestic. Our earliest and most formative experiences are shaped or re-framed at different times and for different reasons as a kind of ‘visual laboratory’. Brenda Brady A Cast of Paintings features small works
Artist Maeve Clancy presents the working life of Newbridge-born scientist Kathleen Lonsdale (1903-1971) through an immersive cut paper installation. The paper is combined with drawings, lighting and animation designed to take the visitor out of their world and into the extraordinary mind of Kathleen Lonsdale. The installation will allow audiences to follow this pioneer’s thought
Come along and explore artwork from Kildare County Council’s Municipal Art Collection (MAC) established in the 1970’s. The collection normally displayed in public buildings across the county, has been revisited, and a selection of work has been especially curated for this exhibition. A municipal collection is a body that is in the process of becoming
Kildare Art Collective return to the McKenna Gallery in June as part of June Fest with a group exhibition featuring the work of 15 collective members. Unseen reveals what we generally do not, or cannot, see. This prompts us to question the invisible, the obscured and the unnoticed. In this exhibition Kildare Art Collective take
Our Place playfully explores themes of happiness, human rights, and a sense of belonging by transforming the McKenna Gallery at Riverbank Arts Centre into a friendly multi-sensory environment through an electric combination of sound art, storytelling, tactile lighting, touchable sculptures and comfy seating for everyone to enjoy. A soundscape will play through a system of
Fáilte! Witamy! Bem-vindo! Welcome! Step into a world of stories at this multilingual audio installation for young people ages 9+. Grab a pair of headphones, get comfy and choose a story- each one will transport you to another world, another language, another culture. All stories can be understood by English speakers with phrases and words
Kildare based artist Gavin Casey investigates the intrinsic relationship between colour and sound, and its representation in art. Gavin’s exploration into this realm began in 2001 while studying Fine Art at Dublin Institute of Technology (now TU Dublin). Here, Gavin mapped vivid colours to the sounds of an African percussion instrument called the ‘Djembe’. These
Ever wondered how you look through a child’s eyes? Are you whacky and wonderful, or a little spikey and colourful? Join Aussie artist Jessica Wilson, as she facilitates a weekend of photo-portrait-making where your child is pulling the shots! With a child centred vision, I See You Like This invites each child to art direct
Ever wondered how you look through a child’s eyes? Are you whacky and wonderful, or a little spikey and colourful? Join Aussie artist Jessica Wilson, as she facilitates a weekend of photo-portrait-making where your child is pulling the shots! With a child centred vision, I See You Like This invites each child to art direct
With our ever-growing appetite to document our lives through photos and selfies, children are so often the reluctant subjects of their parent’s cameras; asked to smile, look natural, look that way, and come in closer. I See You Like This turns the camera back and allows children to see their parents as subjects through the
All The President’s Books is a picture book exhibition by artist Peter Donnelly based on his bestselling series of children’s books. In 2017 Peter pitched his first idea to the publisher, Nicki Howard at Gill Books. The President’s Glasses went on to become the best-selling picture book of the year and was shortlisted in the
This exhibition examines the contemporary and historical practice of folk medicine in Ireland. Drawing from personal interviews and archival research, traditional plant lore is combined with magico-religious beliefs about ‘the cure’, inherited healing abilities, the concept of the bean feasa and the role of place. Inspired by the curative qualities of the Brat Bhríde, over
We warmly welcome you to a panel discussion with Visual Artist Sheena Malone and a special guest, as they explore the role of Irish folk medicine and its wider context. Inspired by her exhibition Folk Medicine, this artist talk expands on the themes present in the artworks. Looking at the historical context of folk medicine
Welcome to Puffin Rock Habitats! A habitat is a place where an animal or plant lives. It provides all the food, water and shelter they need to survive. Join our young puffins Oona and Baba as they take you on a sensory journey into the different habitats that make up Puffin Rock! These habitats are
Join this gathering of Creative Well artists, members and supporters as they reflect on their collective work in Kildare over the last 10 years, and launch their book The Creative Well Archive. Artist Emma Finucane and former Kildare County Council Arts and Health Coordinator Carolann Courtney will lead a round table discussion to share experiences
In Patching Femininity, artist Olga Anacka explores and challenges visual representations of femininity and the female body in western culture. Comprising a dozen embroidered tapestries, this body of work is very personal, with images derived from the artist's memory and family archive, juxtaposed with symbolic representations of the feminine drawn from internet searches and commonplace
Join visual artist Olga Anacka and guests for an evening of art and shared experience. Inspired by the themes woven through her solo exhibition Patching Femininity, Olga questions societal expectations associated with feminine values and invites visitors to an open discussion. In this honest conversation, the panel will elaborate on aspects of female representation and
Seashells, an intriguing exhibition by Greg Sinclair, invites viewers on a linguistic voyage through the whimsical world of tongue twisters. At the heart of this captivating display is a short video where Greg embarks on a linguistic adventure, reciting tongue twisters in various languages from Arabic to Urdu. With each repetition, Greg’s playful exploration of
Following a Decade of Commemorations in Co. Kildare, it is pertinent to examine how we commemorate; how we connect to events in our past; and what value there is in representation and re-enactment. The Decade of Commemorations Programme (2013–2023) provided opportunities to imagine the everyday experience of ordinary people living in extraordinary times, alongside the
Join Bullet Points exhibition curator Paula Barrett as she chairs a panel discussion with artists Dominic Thorpe, Michael James Rowley, Claire Halpin, and member of Lord Edward’s Own Re-enactment Group, Monasterevin Barry Walsh. The discussion will be centred around the exhibition and the who, what and how we commemorate. Claire Halpin is a Dublin born
What information do you need to cast a shadow? In the absence of sunlight is it time to cast a vote? Can you create a cast using just a long piece of string? Can you catch a fish by casting it in a starring role? Cast features the work of Kildare Art Collective members exploring
Join us for an audibly delightful tour that will guide you through Kildare Art Collective’s exhibition ‘Cast’, which will take place in our McKenna Gallery. Facilitated by Michelle McBride, whose work ‘Cast Aside’ is included in this exhibition, this aurally descriptive tour is offered for those who are visually impaired and provides an audio description
Brianna Hurley and Thomas Barron Curated by Dominic Thorpe Near Faraway Places is a two person exhibition which brings together the work of artists Brianna Hurley and Thomas Barron to speak to the idea of ‘places’ that are both close and distant, familiar and unfamiliar, clear and indecipherable. Both artists are members of the KCAT
This poem can… Open magical doorways Pick a lock to your heart Steal away on stormy seas Make a dragon weep. E. R. Murray Poetry can open magical doorways. Doorways to other worlds. Worlds of magic and adventure. Based on the award-winning book ‘I Am the Wind’ this exhibition can export you to another world.
What’s The Occasion? is an engaging solo exhibition by Kildare artist Kym Tracey. This exhibition showcases a collection of original paintings, drawings and sculptures, inspired by celebrations, occasions and key moments in time – some of which hold a personal narrative to the artist. Kym’s artworks are contemporary and nostalgic all at once. Initially taking
Artist Noel Hensey presents an artist talk with a difference. Part artist talk, part stand-up comedy routine and part satire on the artworld, Hensey dives into the realities of life as a working artist and the inevitable rejections that must be faced along the way. About Noel Hensey (b. Dublin) currently lives and works in
This solo exhibition of work by Saidhbhín Gibson features groupings of elements which are interconnected with themselves and with the viewer. The shrinking habitats of, and the apathy towards, the more-than-human could be defined as the second wave of colonialism in Ireland. The distance between human and “nature” expands leaving crumbs of chance encounters with
H U D D L E is a roving, inclusive event for the discussion around contemporary art and associative narratives. It was devised and is chaired by Saidhbhín Gibson. The project was initiated to facilitate those interested in contemporary art, and supplementary subjects, to come together. Since 2017, there have been 22 huddles in over
