Juliette de la Mer

Juliette

Hersey, Iceland

Juliette de la Mer is an Irish artist who graduated as a mature student in 2005 from the MFA Programme at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin.

Since graduating she has had several solo shows around the country as well as taking part in many groups shows some of them abroad.

She is now based in Co Clare in the Republic of Ireland, where she continues her painting practice. Her work is held in public and private collections, in Ireland and the UK.

Artist’s Statement

A preoccupation with process in art making has been the motivating factor within the work for many years, and has had a variety of directions and manifestations. The quiet interweaving and overlapping lines of colour in previous work has evolved into larger areas of colour or “shapes”. The immediate impact of this change is a need to stand back from the painting to enjoy the impact of the colour and its tactility rather than closely observing the complexity of the surface.

When making the painting some drawing is used to introduce the “cast” as the shapes can be called. These “shapes” are a departure from the previous work in that they are consciously executed at the painting`s, inception. To some extent the placing of these shapes references still life composition. However, there is always an unconscious element in every painting; decisions about colour and composition are often reactive and evolve over time as the dynamics within the painting changes. In essence, a painting is an entity created through time: it is doing the work that creates the painting! As Merleau Ponty commented in Primary of Perception “painting is a product of the world in which being is not given but emerges over time.” The outcome of any painting is unpredictable….as the painting has it`s own momentum which builds during it`s execution and results in the completed work.

The current work attempts to move away from the linear repetition of the previous work and concentrates on larger areas of contrasting colour. Conversations between the colours are more intense because of the quantity of the areas of colour, while the larger surface areas encourage greater tactility and painterly input.

Current activities

Studio practice in Co Clare. Making work for current exhibitions. Preparing for forthcoming Residency with WASP Studios in Scalloway, Shetland Isles, Scotland in April.

Residencies

2023 Wasp Studios Residency, Scalloway, Shetland, UK
2022 Tyrone Guthrie. Annaghmakerrick. Co Monaghan.
2020 Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Annaghmakerrick. Co Monaghan.
2019 Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Annaghmakerrick, Co. Monaghan.
2017 Hrisey – Old School, Skolagata/Midbraut, Iceland
2016 Sim Berlin, Germany.
2016 TyroneGuthrie Centre, Annaghmakerrick, Co Monaghan.
2015 Sim Reykjavik, Iceland.
2014 Sim Berlin, Germany.
2013 SIM Reykjavik Iceland.
2012 SIM Berlin. Germany.
2011 SIM Reykjavik., Iceland.

Exhibitions

2023 Summer Open, Old Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon, Co Clare
2022 “Trasna”, Christmas Show Old Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon, Co Clare.,
2022 Summer Open Old Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon, Co Clare.
2021 Mountshannon Arts “Hush hush” charity exhibition.
2020 Winter Open Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon. Co Clare.
2019 Summer Open Courthouse Gallery. Ennistymon. Co. Clare
2016 December Group show Customhouse Studios, Westport, Co Mayo.
2016 November Solo show Customhouse Studios, Westport, Co Mayo
2015 November `54 Degrees north`Sim group show, Reykjavik , Iceland,
2015 Sept. Galway twinning, Artspace group exhibition.
2014 November, participant Tulca Festival, Galway.
2014 June, Glor Summer Open Exhibition, Ennis, Co. Clare.
2013 August Glor Summer Open Exhibition, Ennis, Co. Clare.
2013 July Ennis Art Trail, Ennis Co. Clare.
2012 December group show “Trasna 1”, Ennistymon Courthouse Gallery, Co. Clare.
2012 April solo show “Uninvited Guests”, XPO Kilnaboy, Co. Clare.
2011 25th Anniversary show “Collective Consciousness“, Artspace Studios, Galway.
2010 Artspace Studios group show, Lorient, France.
2009 Artspace Studios group show “Art Trail” Volvo Race Festival, Galway.
2008 April solo show, Courthouse Studios, Westport, Co. Mayo.
2007 joint show with M Meehan “Synergies”, Draoicht, Blanchardstown, Dublin.