In my art practice, I work primarily as a painter and also in drawing, performance, video & installation. My recent work explores the recognition of gesture and the art of ‘giving face’. In my working process, I am drawn to image captured body signals that are heightened by performance and direction. I then subvert the visual language that these images are constructed through, renewing these found subjects through empathic connection, black humour and rebellious play.
Mags Geaney
About the member
Mags Geaney was born in Cork. She studied Fine Art painting at the Limerick College of Art and Design. She was awarded an MA by Research in Fine Art by the Crawford College of Art and Design in 2010.
Solo exhibition’s include Penumbra (2019), Sternview Gallery, Tu Me Manques (2015), Wandesford Quay Gallery, Cork, Fall (2011) Backwater Studio Gallery. Lucky (2010 ) video projection Culture night at Wandesford Quay courtyard. Vasalisas’s Journey (2004) was shown at the Lightboxes, Tom Barry’s.Tryst (2000) Tig Fili Gallery, Cork toured to Siamsa Tire Gallery, Tralee. Two person exhibition Crewel (2015) at the Lightboxes, By Request (2010), Wandesford Quay Gallery.
Geaney’s group exhibitions include Imago MundI (2016), curated by Ciara Gibbons, Blue Leaf Gallery, Dublin for Benetton, CREATE at Brown Thomas (2011), Backwater Twenty 10 (2010) Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Straylight/ Darklight (2009) performance festival curated by Amanda Coogan, the Millstreet Gallery Dublin, Happy Accidents (2004) the Triskel Arts Centre, Christmas and Summer shows,Fenton Gallery, C2 (2005) at the Crawford Art Gallery, UCC and the Contemporary Irish Artists, Sala Consiliare, Italy. Contemporary Art in the Cathedral 2005, Fetish in a box (2006) at the Triskel 2006, Mother Artin the Buckley Gallery, Death and Desire at the Sirius Art Centre in 2007, Fruit cakes and Furry collars in the West Cork Arts Centre in Skibbereen in 2009.
She has work in the Bank of Ireland Collection, Lithuania Art Museum and many private collections in Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and USA. She is the recipient of many awards including Art Flights from the Arts Council of Ireland, and residencies at the International Plein Air in Lithuania and in Berlin.
She worked as Education officer at the Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast and implemented the Education Programme at the Crawford Gallery with the artist Una Quigley.
Various public commissions include:
The Discovery Centre, Neurological Paediatric Research at UCC/ CUH 2010,
Lifetime Lab, Cork City Waterworks for Cork City Council 2008,
North Monastery Primary School 2004 and 2001,
St. Maries of the Isle primary School in 2008/2003.
Education
- 2008- 2010 Masters by Research in Fine Art, Crawford College of Art and Design.
- 1988 Diploma in Fine Art Painting, Limerick College of Art and Design. (Degree equivalent).
- 1984 One year Certificate in Visual Education, Crawford College of Art and Design.
Exhibitions
EXHIBITIONS SOLO/ TWO PERSON:
- 2019 PENUMBRA, solo exhibition at the Sternview gallery, Cork
- 2015 TU ME MANQUES, solo exhibition at Backwater Artists Studios. Opening 11th June, Midsummer Arts Festival.
- 2015 CREWEL, a collaborative exhibition between Mags Geaney, painter, and Jenny Monks, textile artist, The Lightboxes at Tom Barry’s. March – May.
- 2011 FALL, solo exhibition at Backwater Artists Studios.
- 2010 BY REQUEST, Wandesford Quay Gallery.
- 2010 LUCKY video projection in the Wandesford Quay courtyard
- 2004 VASALISA’S JOURNEY, The Light boxes TomBarry’s
- 2000 TRYST, Tig Fili, Cork and toured to Siamsa Tire Gallery, Tralee, Kerry
SELECTED GROUP:
- 2017 BACKWATER AT THE GLUCKSMAN
- 2017 OPEN at Backwater Studios.
- 2016 IMAGO MUNDI curated by Ciara Gibbons, Blue leaf Gallery, Dublin for Benetton.
- 2016/11 ART FOR CAMBODIA Henchy’s annual exhibition, St.Lukes, Cork.
- 2011 MAGS GEANEY at Brown Thomas exhibition, invited artist.
- 2010 BACKWATER TWENTY 10 at the Crawford Art Gallery
- 2009 STRAY LIGHT/ DARK LIGHT performance festival, curator Amanda Coogan, Dublin Milll Gallery, Dublin
- 2008 FRUITCAKES AND FURRY COLLARS, West Cork Arts Centre, Cork
- 2007 FENTON GALLERY Summer Show
DEATH AND DESIRE, Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh, Cork - 2006 FETISH IN A BOX, Triskel Arts Centre, Cork
CHRISTMAS SHOW, Fenton Gallery, Cork
MOTHER ART,Buckley Gallery, Clonakilty, Cork - 2005 CONTEMPORARY ART IN THE CATHEDRAL, St.Finbarres
C2, CONTEMPORARY ART FROM CORK Crawford Gallery - 2004 TERRIBLE BEAUTY, Contemporary Irish Artists, Sala Consiliare,Varese,Italy
- 2004 BACKWATER MEETS BLACKWATER, Mallow, Cork
ART TRAIL, Backwater Artists Studios. - 2003 BACKWATER TOURING EXHIBITION, Sligo Art Gallery, Triskel Arts Centre, Clotsworthy Arts Centre
- 2002 HAPPY ACCIDENTS, Triskel Arts Centre
FIGURE IT OUT, Group show, U.C.C.
SUMMER SOW / CHRISTMAS SHOW, The Fenton Gallery, Cork
ART IN THE CATHEDRAL, St. Finbarres, Cork - 2000 SAMHAIN SWING, APT Gallery, Greenwich Gallery, London
MILLENIUM ART AND CHRISTIANITY, West Cork Arts Centre,
Residency
AWARDS:
- 2010 Winner of Cork Printmakers Image selection
- 2007 Commission for Cork City Council at ‘The City Waterworks”
- 2004 Art Flight, Arts Council of Ireland
- 1999 Residency at International Plein Air, Alytus, Lithuania
- 1998 Art Flight, ACOI
- 1994 Visual Arts Bursary, ACNI
Mags
Geaney
Mags Geaney
Irresistible Force; acrylic on linen
Mags Geaney
The New Natural; acrylic & pencil on canvas
Mags Geaney
The Contender; acrylic & pencil on canvas