Ben Reilly

benreilly.ie

benreilly.ie

About the member

Graduated Crawford College of Art and design 1987; completed a BA Archaeology University College Cork in 1995; received a MA, in fine Art sculpture, Winchester and Design, 1999. He has worked consistently as an Artist since 1987 College of Art and has had solo exhibitions across Ireland and in Germany (Berlin and Munster). Ben has participated in-group shows in Europe, China and America. He has been in receipt of a Department of Education Scholarship award, Irish Arts Council Bursary, and Materials Grant, Claremorris Open Adjudicators award and a culture Ireland Grant. In addition to his artistic work Ben has worked as a film projectionist Triskel Arts Centre Cork and Cork Film festival (1988/95) and as an Archaeologist (1991/2003). He is at present a full time Fine Art Lecturer in South East Technological University, Waterford institute of Technology.

Exhibitions

2024: Feedback, LHQ Gallery Cork, Group show curated by Roisin Foley.
2024: Field Trip Lavit Gallery Cork, Group show curated by Kevin Kavanagh and Alannah Murray.
2024: Prints and Drawings from Collection, Waterford Gallery of Art.
2024: Lavit Gallery Annual Members Exhibition.
2023: GOMA Gallery of Modern Art Waterford 7th Annual members Exhibition.
2023: Dunamaise Art Centre, Open Submission Group show.
2023: Ballinglen Museum of Art Biennial Exhibition.
2023: Spider Tree: Solo show Garter lane Art Centre Waterford. Written text by Sara Baum.
2023: Lavit Gallery Annual member’s exhibition.
2023: Roaming group show Cork county Library Gallery.
2022: R.H.A Annual Group show.
2021: Fuzzy Logic, Group show 126 Gallery, Galway.
2020: Fuzzy Logic, Group show, Studio 12, project space, Cork.
2019: Soul Noir festival, Laragh House Laragh, Maynooth. Co.KIldare.
2019: Graft solo show Studio 12, Wandesford quay, Cork.Written text by Dr Ann Murray.
2018: R.H.A Annual show. 2017: elsewhere, Group show, Wandesford Quay Gallery Cork.
2018: The old and the weary: solo show Goma Gallery Waterford Catalogue with Essay by Dara Waldron.
2018: Claremorris open Exhibition, Claremorris co Mayo.
2016: Open studios exhibition, GlogauAIR studios Berlin.
2015: Silver part I and II Backwater Group show at Garter lane Waterford and Uillin west Cork Art Centres.
2014: Royal Ulster Academy Annual Group Show, Belfast.

Ben
Reilly

I am a magpie, but a very particular one. I pick up objects that are shiny to me, perhaps because of its shape or maybe it fits in with some other piece or just because I like the look of it. Sometimes I use the object directly and build onto it or make a mould of the object and cast it in wax. This could be a found object or as in the exhibition Spider Tree, casts of my Feet. The Timber Drift wood that I brought to the studio initially tended to have had a former life and had the scares to prove it. Nails, Burns, cut marks, Bolts, appealed to me in my choice of wood scavenged. After casting or collecting, the individual part could then remain percolating in the studio for months or even years before it becomes part of a piece. The work has a dark element of course in terms of colour and weight but to me there is a humour perhaps a little perverse and well-hidden but it is there you just have to look.