VICKY SMITH, IRL
Statement
Vicky Smith(b.1975) is an Irish artist from Galway, IRL. Raised in Cork, she traveled and taught art in the UK, USA, and Africa before settling in Galway where she works and lives with her young family. Influenced by the writings of Sylvia Plath, Edna O’Brien, and Emilie Pine and drawing on a history of feminist artists and performance in feminist art practice, Smith explores female domesticity as a metaphor for female struggle using film, painting, sculpture, photography, and ceramics, as well as employing various domestic objects. This exploration is the basis for her most recent work, exhibited with the AGA collective in Somewhere between perception and reality in Olivier Cornet Gallery, Dublin, and VUE contemporary Art Fair, RHA in 2018. In the work, she stitched fragments of former paintings onto a canvas frame overlaid with an acrylic and oil portrait of one astronaut wife, inspired by the photograph of an astronaut’s wife from the cover of Life magazine (published in September 1959), onto a domestic placemat. The wife watches from the interior space of her living room nervously on her chair as her husband is launched into space. The question posed by the work is whether or not the female struggle has changed since the 1960s, one not easily resolved by its juxtaposition between the past and the present. Using the methodology of collage, Smith examines the shifting role of women in the last century and the psychological effects of the endeavor to balance a domestic, marital, and creative life. How does one produce work while limited by everyday obligations?
Recent exhibitions include; Hiatus, members exhibition,126 Artist-run Gallery(2019), PERMISSION, group show, Cuirt International Writers Festival(2019), Somewhere Between Perception and Reality, assocaite member of the Olivier Cornet Gallery at VUE Ireland’s National Contemporary Art Fair, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, IRL(2018) Narrating Self, Translating the Other, Galway Arts Centre, Galway, IRL(2018), 2°C- C40 One City at a Time, Olivier Cornet Gallery AGA collective exhibition VUE Ireland’s National Contemporary Art Fair, RHA Dublin, IRL(2017), Material Conditions, Engage Art Studios collaborative exchange with Platform Arts. Curators Hayley Gault & Alex Brunt Platform Arts, Belfast, NIRL (2017) Nasty Women, Pallas/Project Studios, Dublin.Curator Eve Woods (2017) The Meeting, Olivier Cornet Galley, Dublin & Laois Arthouse & Library, Stradbally, Co. laois, IRL Curators Muireann Ni Chonaill & Olivier Cornet (2017) Impressions Printmaking Show, Galway International Arts festiva,l Centre for Creative Arts & media, GMIT, Galway, IRL Curator Jason Hicklin (2017) Incognito A public Art initiative in aid of the Jack & Jill charity. Solomon Gallery, Dublin, IRL (2017)
Smith founded Galway Arts Education Agency in 2015, a mobile art school and is currently developing a Gallery of Children's Art in Galway city. Smith was recipient of the Artist in School Residency from Galway County Council in 2017 and 2016. She joined the Impressions Print Exhibition team in 2016 as studio manager of Galway Print Studio(2016-2017). Previous to this she was the chairperson and board member of 126 Artist-led Gallery (2010-2012) and education coordinator on the steering committee for FEACH, a new visual art space initiative for Galway City and County.
VICKY SMITH (IRL) CV
(b.1975) Galway. Lives & works in Galway, Ireland
AGA collective member associate with the Olivier Cornet Gallery, Dublin, IRL
Contact Details:
+353(0)851667876
info@vickysmith.ie
Education:
2010-2011 MA Art in the Contemporary World theory pathway, with honours
National College of Art & Design Dublin, IRL
2006-2007 Diploma in the History of European Painting & Irish Art history, with honours
Trinity College, The University of Dublin, IRL
2003-2004 MA Arts Administration and Cultural Policy with honours
Goldsmiths College, University College of London, UK
1998-1999 Higher Diploma for Art and Design Teachers with distinction
Crawford College of Art &Design & Cork Institute of Technology, I RL with distinction. TCR No. 174109
1997-1998 BA Honours Degree in Fine Art, Printmaking with distinction
Crawford College of Art & Design & Cork Institute of Technology, IRL
1994-1997 National Diploma in Painting, with distinction Crawford College of Art & Design, Cork, IRL
Membership:
Engage Art Studios, studio member, board member, education and projects co-ordinator, Galway, IRL
126 artist-run Gallery life long member and board member, Galway, IRL
FEACH New Contemporary Visual Arts Centre, member of the steering committee, Galway, IRL
VAI Professional membership No. 2393, Dublin, IRL
Teaching Council of Ireland, Department of Eduction and Skills, registration number 171409, IRL
Qualified teacher status with the Department of Education and Skills, RP02/20896.2002, UK
Awards & Residencies:
2017 Individual Arts Bursary Galway City Council, IRL
2017 Galway County Council Artist in School Scheme. Tynagh National School, Loughrea, Co. Galway, IRL
2016 Galway County Council Artist in School Scheme. Tierneevin National School, Gort, Co. Galway, IRL
2014 Individual Arts Bursary Award, Galway City Council, IRL
2012 Visual Arts Residency at Galway Arts Centre by director of Visual Arts, Maeve Mulrennan, Galway, IRL
2012 Adjudicator prizewinner, Kate Howard, Galway 2020, Brigit's Garden's exhibition, Galway, IRL
2011 Individual Arts Bursary Award, Galway City Council, IRL
1999 H.Dip Student of the Year Award, Crawford College of Art&Design, IRL
1999 BA Honours Degree Fine Art Student of the year, Crawford College of Art & Design, IRL
1998 Barry Malone Award, Diploma in painting, Crawford College of Art &Design, IRL
Solo & Two Person exhibitions:
2015 A Final Soar into Orbit, The Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, Mayo, IRL
2014 House of Blindness, PS2 & Paragon Studios, Belfast, NIR
2013 Mega Bubble Space Burbs, Galway Arts Centre, Galway, IRL
2011 Perambulatory Rhetoric’s, two person show with Lisa Sweeney at The Niland Gallery, Galway, IRL
Group Exhibitions:
2019 Hiatus 126 Artist-run gallery Members Exhibition,17th May-2nd June, Galway, IRL
PERMISSION, an exhibition in response to Notes to Self by Emilie Pine, Cuirt International Writer’s Festival,
Galway, IRL
2018 Somewhere Between Perception and Reality, represented by the Olivier Cornet Gallery at VUE Ireland’s National
Contemporary Art Fair, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, IRL
Narrating Self, Translating the Other, Galway Arts Centre, Galway, IRL
2017 2°C - C40, One City at a Time, Olivier Cornet Gallery AGA collective exhibition, VUE Ireland’s National \
Contemporary Art Fair, RHA Dublin, IRL
Material Conditions, Engage Art Studios collaborative exchange with Platform Arts. Curators Hayley Gault & Alex
Brunt, Platform Arts, Belfast NIRL
Nasty Women, Pallas/Project Studios, Curator Eve Woods. Dublin, IRL
The Meeting, Olivier Cornet Galley, Dublin & Laois Arthouse & Library, Stradbally, Co. laois, IRL Curators Muireann
Ni Chonaill & Olivier Cornet.
Impressions Printmaking Show, Centre Creative Arts & media, GMIT, part of Galway International Arts festival
Curator Jason Hicklin, Galway,IRL
Incognito A public Art initiative in aid of the Jack & Jill charity. Solomon Gallery, Dublin, IRL
2016 HouseWork, Wife, Woman, An Taibdhearc Irish Language Theatre, Galway, IRL
Impressions biennale inaugural book arts exhibition part of Galway International Art Festival, CCAM, GMIT,
curated by David Ferry,Galway, IRL
2°C, AGA Collective Group exhibition with David Fox, Paul James-Kearney and Sheila Naughton Olivier Cornet
Gallery. Dublin, IRL
2014 Little Kingdoms, Catalyst Members Show. Curator Mitch Conlon.Belfast, IRL.
2013 Engage Art Studios Members Show at 126 artist-run Gallery. Curator Austin Ivers, Galway, IRL
Winter Open Exhibition, Rua Red Gallery. Curators Paul and Claire McAree and Grace McEvoy, Dublin, IRL
PACE, Clifden Arts Festival. Curator Shelly MacDonnell. Co. Galway, IRL
Too Many Dinner Parties, The Shed. Galway. Curator Peter Mutschler, PS2 & Paragon Studios Studios, Belfast.
NIRL
Drawing on the Back of an Envelope. Curator Ian Wieczorek. Linenhall Arts Centre, Mayo, IRL
2012 Under-the-Counter(UTCP) Poster Manifestation, public art initiative. Curator Ruby Wallis , Galway, IRL
Chemist at your Service, Annual Brigit’s Gardens Exhibition, Co. Galway, IRL. Curator kate Howard Visual Arts
Producer for Galway 2020 ,
#008000,The Shed, Galway. Curator Grace McEvoy,Galway, IRL
Latency, Linenhall Arts Centre, Mayo. Curator Michaela Cutalya, Mayo, IRL
2011 Spectrum of Activity, Curator Padraic E Moore, The Black Mariah, Triskel Arts Centre, Cork, IRL.
Fragmentary Sites ‘in-flux’ a large scale multi part exhibition with ten artist led project spaces. Curator Occupy
Space, Limerick, IRL
2003 Body Aspects, Blue Wing gallery, Richmond Upon Thames, UK
The Discerning Eye Pall Mall Galleries. Curator Lord Bath, London, UK.
Mythology, Mystery and Magic Blue Wing Gallery. Richmond Upon Thames, London, UK
Travel Karen Taylor Gallery, Contemporary Art Gallery, Twickenham, London, UK
Illusion Gallery, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, UAE
Fresh Art Fair, Independent Artist, Business Design Centre, Islington, UK
Studio 32, Open Studio, Croydon, London, UK
2000 Backwater Artists Studio. Group exhibition, Cork, IRL
Artists Book exhibition, Wexford Arts centre, IRL
IONTAS Sligo Art Gallery Small Works Art Exhibition and Travel Award 2000, Sligo, Ormeau Baths
Gallery, Limerick City Gallery, IRL
1999 Women, Work and Money MWA Gallery, Northburgh street, London, UK
Three Ages of Woman, Degree Show Exhibition, Crawford College of Art & Design, Cork City, IRL
Curator:
2017 Impressions Print Exhibition GMIT Centre for Creative Arts & Media Exhibition facilitator
2016 Galway Print Studio Members Exhibition & Graphic Studio, Dublin
2013 Surface 3rd year paint Exhibition with Visual Arts Officer, Ms Maeve Mulrenann
2013 Too Many Dinner Parties Project Coordinator with Engage Art Studios
2013 UTCP collective poster exhibition curator
2010-2012 126 Artist-run Gallery board member & curator of Beyond Guilt Triology, Ruti Sela and Mayan Amir amongst others.
Employment:
2019 Director of Gallery of Children’s Art, Galway currently under development.
2017 Lecturer on the BA Degree in Photographic Media, year 1Ways of Seeing, John Berger(History of Art) & year 3 the
Politics of the Image. Griffith College Dublin, IRL
2016-2017 Galway Print Studio, studio manager & education co-ordinator
2016-2017 Impressions Biennale exhibition facilitator. Centre for Creative Arts & Media, Galway, IRL
2015-2019 Galway Arts Education Agency. Director of freelance art workshops with Galway Arts Centre, Educate Together National School and Knocknacara community Centre.
2000-2019 Registered teacher of Art, Craft &Design with the Department of Education & Skills & theTeaching Council of
Ireland. Substitute teacher of Art, Craft & Design in Galway City, County & Dublin City. Exam Craft Peak Learning, Dublin, Junior Certificate & Leaving Certificate Art practicals and Art History
2013-2017 Junior Certificate examination cycle Superintending officer with the Department of Education & Skills.
State Exams Commission examinations corrector of leaving certificate Art practicals, Art history, junior certificate Art, Craft and Design and CSPE exams
2010-2012 126 Artist- run Gallery Board member (administrator, curator, treasurer & chairperson), Galway, IRL
2008-2009 Lecturer on the BTEC National Diploma in Foundation Studies, GCSE year 9 & A-Level year 10 and 11, Fine Art A-level, Photography A-Level. Sixth Form College, Ferndown Upper School, Dorset, UK.
Saturday Art School Tutor, portfolio preparation course. Bournemouth Arts Institute, Bournemouth, UK
2005-2007 Director of Art, Craft & Design, Castle Park National School, Dalkey, Co. Dublin, IRL.
2002-2005 Substitute teacher of Art in various schools across London, UK
2000-2002 Director Art with the British Council as part of the Teachers for Botswana recruitment scheme, Botswana, Africa.
1998-2000 Cork Youth Reach and Teacher of Art, Craft & Design, Scoil Mhuire, Sidney Place, Cork City.
Artist talks & interviews:
2018 Chaired the Fragments Exhibition talk as part of Engage Art Studios exhibition for Cuirt International Writers Festival, hosted by Just Art It, Galway, IRL.
2017 Impressions Print Exhibition launch and exhibition opening speech CCAM, GMIT.
2017 Galway Print Symposium hosted by Cork Printmakers, Galway Print Studio seminar discussion , IRL
2016 Printed Matter Galway Print exhibition Connacht Tribune Works launch and interview by Irish TV
2013 Leaving Certificate Art History revision course, lecture presentation Galway Arts Centre, Nuns Island, Galway, IRL
2013 Chaired a discussion of Illuminate an exhibition by Ruby Wallis, Gerald Glynn & the Brothers of Charity,Nun's Island Theatre, Galway city, IRL
2012 RTE ARENA, Radio 1 review of Sonia Shiel’s exhibition at Galway Arts Centre
2011 What do you stand for? National College of Art & Design Seminar discussion on 126 artist-run gallery
2010 Chaired a discussion of Arspace group exhibition at Galway Arts Centre
2010 Talking about Stuff &Things Niland Gallery & Engage Art Studios Contemporary Art talks
Bibliography:
Boland, Eavan, Editor of Poetry Review publication 124 Smith features a photographic still from House Work, Wife, Woman body of work
Clarke, Paula an essay in response to The Meeting, Olivier Cornet Gallery, August, 2017
Duncan, Adrian. Review of Smith’s photograph in Spectrum of Activity, Triskel Arts Centre, Cork, IRL Paper Visual Arts Journal 2011
Dunne, Aidan The best art exhibitions running across the country, The Irish Times 5th January, 2019
Dunne, Aidan ‘The Take, Critics Choice’,The Ticket, The Irish Times, Saturday 16th December 2017. 2°C Exhibition, The Olivier Cornet Gallery
McCormack, Ailve, A studio visit & interview with Vicky Smith about her studio practice, From the Studio Of....August 2011. McCormack is an independent curator based in London.
Tipton, Gemma The Best Art Shows to Spend Time With this Week..The Meeting, Olivier Cornet Gallery, Dublin 1.The Irish Times, August 2017
Catalogues:
Nasty Women Dublin exhibition catalogue Pallas projects/Studios August 2017,IRL
Mega Bubble Space Burbs publication of Smith’s work for her solo exhibition at Galway Arts Centre featuring an essay by Claire-Louise Bennett, short fiction and essay writer, 2013 Galway, IRL
Too Many Dinner Parties exhibition catalogue featuring work from Markers of Modeller’s and Turners performance, Galway, 2013, IRL
Fragmentary Sites A publication of photographs by Smith from a psycho-geography walk around Galway City, 2012, IRL
Feach- Look, Consider, Examine, Contemporary Visual Arts Centre Steering Committee Catalogue, 2010, IRL
The Emperor's New Clothes, Tales Magazine; selected image for Vol 1, Issue 1, 2003, UK
Discerning Eye, sponsored by ING Bank, Pall Mall Galleries, The Mall, London, 2003 UK
Fresh Art Fair Catalogue 18-20 with an essay by Lucy McNeill Event Director,July 2003/2004 , UK
Iontas 2000, Sligo Art Gallery Eleventh National small works art exhibition and travel award, 2000, IRL
Untitled Fine Art Degree Show Catalogue, Crawford College of Art, Craft & Design, Cork, 1999, IRL
