Dearbhail Connon
Dearbhail Connon is best known for her deeply resonant abstract paintings that combine a search for meaning with her own personal experience. In particular, she is drawn to themes of spirituality and the inter-dimensional nature of reality.
Born and raised in Dublin, Dearbhail has been living in Cork for the past 20 years. Her training includes a BA (Hons) in Media Production, a BA in Fine Art, and a first class honors MA in Art Therapy. She has made many short films, including commissions from Cork County Council and the Irish Association of Creative Arts Therapies.
Dearbhail also works as an art psychotherapist and has a private practice in Kinsale specializing in loss and bereavement. Her work is also influenced by her training as an environmental arts therapist, which involves working with nature and outdoors. This is also combined with her training in pre-Celtic shamanism.
Artist Statement
My work is informed and influenced by many levels of reality and awareness. I paint different frequencies and streams of consciousness. Painting to me is both prayer, ceremony, and ritual. It is a way to channel and connect to many seen and unseen dimensions. That may take the form of wild places, elemental beings, angelic frequencies etc. Different levels of consciousness are often symbolized in the use of colour, mark making and texture. I often use gold leaf, and bitumen as well as oil paint as my chosen materials. I also often write in a stream of conscious style when presenting the images. This is my truest most instinctive voice. It is soul language that speaks directly to the creative imagination.
Features
-
Ancestral Land
€ 800.00
-
Ancestral Land
€ 800.00
Accolades
Education
2008-2010: MA in Art Therapy, Crawford College/Cork institute of Technology, Cork. Result: 1H1 ( First Class Honours) Thesis: Feature length documentary titled ‘Journey Bound; art therapy as a way through death and loss’
2001-2004: Degree in Fine Art (90 ECTS completed), Dublin Institute of Technology, School of Art Design and Printing / SIDS Sherkin Island.
2003-2004: Professional Arts Practice
- The Learning Teacher
- Performance Art
- Materials and Meaning
- Co-Ordinating an exhibition
- Situating work in a critical context
- Staging an Exhibition
1989-1992: BA (Hons) Media Production 2:1, 1st Division. Newcastle Polytechnic.
1987-1989: Higher National Diploma Audio Visual Technology Napier College, Edinburgh.
Exhibitions
- 1/12/23. Swan Song. Lord Mayors Pavilion, Cork City. Solo Show.
- 20/11/2021. Uileann West Cork Arts Centre. Skibbereen. Monochrome. Group show.
- 04/11/2021. Sample Studios Winter Exhibition. Lord Mayors Pavilion. Group show.
- 29/07/2021. Beyond Form, the Continuity of Consciousness. Munster Technological University Gallery, 46 Grand Parade, Cork City. Solo Show.
- 12/07/2019. Beyond Form. St Luke’s Crypt, Cork. Solo Show.
- 06/05/2016. New Work. Dearbhail Connon and Tom Campbel. Cork School of Music.
- 12/10/2008. ‘8’ (curated group show) The Dock Arts Centre, Carrick-On-Shannon.
- 2004-2008. Represented by the Warren Gallery, Castletownsend.
- 12/10/2008. Group Show. Hayden Shaughnessy Gallery Kinsale.
- 30/06/2004. Uileann, The West Cork Art Centre, T.U.Dublin visual art degree on Sherkin Island. Curated graduation group show. Sept. 2005.
Articles
Residencies & Awards
- June 2016. Cill Rialaig.
- January 2018. Cill Rialaig.
- September 2019. Cill Rialaig.
- December 2020. Cill Rialaig.
- July 2021. The Burren School of Art.
- November 2021. The Tyrone Guthrie Centre.
- December 2021. Cill Rialaig.
- August 2022. The Tyrone Guthrie Centre.
- December 2022. Cill Rialaig.
- August 2023. Rural Residency for Contemporary Art, Italy.
- October 2023. Cill Rialaig.