Laura Buckley: Painting with Light

On what would have been her 47th birthday we are honoured to celebrate the extraordinary Laura Buckley with this survey exhibition curated by Eamonn Maxwell.  The exhibition opens on Saturday 10 Feb at 6:00pm, and all are welcome to attend.

This exhibition will feature a number of her sculptural installations and all of the works in the show are being exhibited in Ireland for the first time ever. Painting With Light is Laura’s first solo exhibition at any public gallery in Ireland, and it’s very fitting that this show is happening in her birth county of Galway, a place she loved. Laura was born in Tuam, Co Galway in 1977 and died in London in 2022.

Having trained at NCAD as a painter, Laura always considered herself as a painter of sorts even though her practice shifted to video and sculptural installation. Following her graduation from MA in Fine Art at Chelsea College of Art, Laura quickly built a reputation as an artist in the UK and beyond.

Works in the exhibition include Attract/Repel a large installation centred on a mirrored fan which is based on a warning sign that Laura found whilst walking on Killiney Beach, Co Dublin in 2014, Distortion Site, made in collaboration with sound artist Andy Spence and first seen in her solo show at Site Gallery, is digitally manipulated audio and video work projected onto polished vertical panels and KZN a work Laura made in the Kwa-Zulu Natal, a coastal South African province, projected onto a mirrored, reflective hexagonal structure. There are also a number of the digital scans that Laura was known for on show, made between 2010 and 2016.

Buckley’s solo exhibitions included Eigen + Art in Berlin (2016), Site Gallery, Sheffield (2013) and Mothers Tankstation, Dublin (2010). Collaborative projects included Polarised, with Kim Coleman at Block 336 (2016); Paul Purgas at the Whitechapel Gallery (2015); Slate with Dan Coopey at Turner Contemporary, Margate, and Gallery Vela, London (2013); and Stage Fright with Dave MacLean and Haroon Mirza at Rokeby (2009). Her films featured in screenings for Hanger Bicocca, Milan; Bold Tendencies, London; and the Derek Jarman programme for Serpentine Gallery, London.

Laura Buckley was born in Tuam, Co Galway in 1977 and died in London in 2022. Laura studied BA Fine Art at National College of Art and Design, Dublin followed by MA Fine Art at Chelsea College of Arts. Solo exhibitions included Eigen+Art Berlin, Site Gallery Sheffield, Cell Project Space London and Mothers Tankstation Dublin. Group exhibitions Daejon Museum of Art South Korea, Whitechapel Gallery London, Turner Contemporary Margate, and Serpentine Gallery London. Her work is held in many major public and private collections including AXA Collection of Irish Art, David Roberts Collection, Saatchi Collection and University of the Arts London Collection. Awards included Mother Art Prize London, Derek Jarman film award, and the Converse/Dazed Emerging Artist Prize at Stephen Friedman Gallery. Laura’s exhibitions attracted favourable ArtForum, Art Review, The Guardian and many others.

Eamonn Maxwell is an independent curator and art advisor. Since graduating from Camberwell College of Arts, Maxwell has been involved in over 60 exhibitions in UK, Ireland and Europe, including curating the Irish Pavilion at 2011 Venice Biennale. From 2009 – 2016 he was Director of Lismore Castle Arts, where he programmed significant exhibitions by leading international and Irish artists. He has been a passionate advocate for emerging artists, establishing the Emerging Artists Programme during his tenure as University Curator, University of the Arts London and he continues to mentor artists. Maxwell has advised some of the leading contemporary art collectors and has served as a board member for many not-for-profit organisations. He has lectured at Crawford College of Art and Design, Ulster University and University College Dublin.

This exhibition is kindly supported by Galway County Council Arts Office.