'Setting' by artist
Mary O’Malley
26.06.26
SETTING, a new exhibition
by Irish-American ceramic artist Mary O'Malley, is
opening on Saturday 27 June 2026 at the Saldanha
Gallery, Fort Dunree.
Running alongside the exhibition is Still Life, an
open-call group exhibition featuring work by local
artists responding to the theme of still life in a wide
range of media.
Originally from New York and now based in Connecticut,
Mary O'Malley was educated at the Royal College of Art
in London and the University of the Arts in
Philadelphia. She has exhibited internationally,
including at the Saatchi Gallery, Christie’s, and the
British Ceramics Biennial. Her work is held in
collections worldwide, and until recently she served as
Assistant Professor of Art at Mercer University in the
US. |
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'Setting' at Artlink Fort
Dunree from 27th June to 26th July 2026 |
Created over the course of
more than a year, Setting is an ambitious installation
that explores ideas of place, history, transformation
and time. Through sculptural ceramic bricks, bees,
butterflies and a striking gold disc, Mary invites
viewers to reflect on the systems, structures and
stories that shape our world, and how they change over
time.
The exhibition was inspired by O'Malley's time at Fort
Dunree, where the landscape, military architecture and
visible signs of erosion and repair sparked an interest
in the idea of "arrested decay" – the attempt to
preserve something at the edge of ruin.
Mary created the work in her American studio before
transporting it across the Atlantic to Donegal. The
exhibition draws connections between two places shaped
by history, landscape and the lasting impact of empire.
Speaking ahead of the launch of her new exhibition, Mary
said: “During my time at Fort Dunree, I became
fascinated by the landscape and the feeling of standing
in a place where so many layers of history are still
present. Setting grew from that experience.
“I wanted to create work that reflects on how things
change over time – whether that's buildings, borders,
beliefs or even our relationship with the natural world.
It's a project that asks us to think about what lasts,
what disappears and what returns in new forms."
Running alongside Setting, the Still Life exhibition
expands the traditional idea of still life, inviting
artists to explore questions of place, presence and
perception through their own unique creative practices.
Alison Hancock, Exhibition Organiser at Artlink, added:
“Alongside Setting, our Still Life exhibition showcases
the creativity of local artists, creating a rich
dialogue between international and local perspectives.
“We warmly invite everyone to visit, experience the
exhibitions for themselves and enjoy this special
cultural event at Fort Dunree during the Earagail Arts
Festival."
The launch event will take place on Saturday 27 June
from 6pm to 8pm, with members of the artist's family
travelling from the US to celebrate the occasion. Taking
place during the Earagail Arts Festival, Setting and
Still Life offer visitors a unique opportunity to
experience contemporary art that connects local and
international perspectives while exploring themes of
place, identity, memory and transformation.
Admission is free and all are welcome.
Setting and Still Life at the Saldanha Gallery, Artlink
Fort Dunree runs from 27th June to 26th July 2026 and is
open daily from 10.30am to 4pm.
Exhibition launch is on Saturday 27th June, from 6pm to
8pm.
Mary O’Malley will be teaching a series of Masterclasses
in Ceramics during the month of July. For times, dates
and to secure your place contact Artlink on
info@artlink.ie .
For further information on the exhibitions Setting and
Still Life visit
www.artlink.ie . |
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