The Winter Gathering at Louise Cherry Gallery
In December 2020, Wicklow Town got a great new addition with the exciting arrival of a new contemporary art gallery. Founded by local artist Louise Cherry, The Louise Cherry Gallery, located on Mortons Lane, Wicklow Town opened its doors for the first time on the very first day the end of country’s second lockdown on December 4th of that year.
Up till now, the gallery has continuously showcased new work by Louise herself. Louise divides her time between painting, photography, teaching and her gallery, with her new studio workspace now in the same building above the gallery. Louise has exhibited nationally and internationally in solo and group shows and her contemporary paintings and photography are held in private and public collections in Ireland and abroad.
Two years on, her gallery is about to enter a new stage in its inception as Louise has curated a group show of 10 local contemporary artist. “ I am very excited about how the the gallery is progressing and as my own work moves further afield, I am keen that the gallery will show and support other local artist working in an interesting and contemporary manner. It is an honour to work with all these interesting and creative people and show their work in my gallery”
The Winter Gathering will showcase an exciting variety of selected artists who were invited by Louise to submit work. “This was not an open submission show, I carefully handpicked a group of local artist whose work interested me and whose work I felt, together would compliment one another and yet produce an interesting and varied show”. The show will include contemporary paintings, limited edition screen prints, ceramics wall hanging, sculpture, wood turned bowls, drawings, embroidered works and watercolour paintings.
The following artists will be exhibited, Stephanie Sloan; Stephanie is an illustrator and printmaker. Influenced by her studio’s coastal location and the surrounding Irish landscape, she creates contemporary print compositions exploring depth, light, texture and pattern. Louise Shearer‘s abstract landscapes are influenced by her surroundings in Wicklow, the land, the sea and the skyscapes. Vibrant colours, rich and intuitive drawing and mark making combine to make for a lively and satisfying composition. Sarah Eva Manson‘s; beautiful large and colourful abstract paintings are inspired by her current studies as a Forest Bather in her surrounding wicklow countryside, Zoe Dillon; currently a mature student in the RHA school of art, creates fascinating oil painting studies of the familiar, unfamiliar, influenced by her daily moonlit walks in her surrounding semi rural/suburban area. Erica Devine; preoccupied with the natural world, seeks to capture its ephemeral beauty and intelligence. Her primary medium is plaster, and in her beautiful set plaster casts she aims to capture the most infinitesimal botanical detail. Other artists included in the show are Fergus O’Conchobhair, Isobel Marinot, Cathy Burke, Kathleen Walsh and work by Louise Cherry herself.
The Winter Gathering will open on Friday December 2nd and continue until the end of January 2023. Opening hours and Christmas open days can be viewed at www.louisecherry.com. The gallery offers a range of great original gift ideas including sculpture, original canvases, limited edition prints and beautiful designer lamps. Louise Cherry Gallery, Mortons Lane, Wicklow Town, A67 TF44.