Sceitimíní
High fired ceramic, L 300mm
Photographer, Rob Bohle
Silver
High fired ceramic, L 400mm
Photographer, Rob Bohle
Deirdre McLoughlin
Deirdre McLoughlin’s work is imbued with an intense physicality and dedication to perfection of forms and surfaces. Her making process is demanding. Using subtle glazes and meticulous coil building techniques, her abstract ceramic forms undergo an intense process of polishing and repeated firing. Timing is key – she typically spends a number of weeks on the skillful execution of any one piece.
McLoughlin’s work has the capacity to disarm the viewer. Some objects, while having the appearance of clay, are like stone to touch – the silky smooth textures are achieved through a rigorous process of diamond polishing and firing at extremely high temperatures. Others contain surprises or secrets, such as tiny semi-precious gems, often resembling pimples, deftly placed in the airholes. Finding value in imperfection and ambiguity, her sculptural ceramic works have been described as having anthropomorphic, zoomorphic or biomorphic qualities. In her adept manipulation of the material, McLoughlin combines abstract and figurative allusions into one defined shape.
McLoughlin received a BA from Trinity College, Dublin. She subsequently moved to Japan to work amongst the Sodeisha Group in Kyoto, Japan. She has been based in Amsterdam since 1988 and regularly lectures in art colleges throughout Ireland
Collections
National Museum of Ireland
Ulster Museum, Belfast
Keramikmuseum Westerwald, Höhr-Grenzhausen, Germany
Museum het Princessehof, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
Frank Steyaert Museum, Ghent, Belgium
Arts Council of Ireland
Limerick City Gallery of Art
National Self-Portrait Collection of Ireland, University of Limerick
Office of Public Works, Ireland
Selected Awards
2011
We are too, featured in a special stamp series celebrating contemporary craft in Ireland issued by An Post to mark Year of Craft 2011
2007
Certificate of Honour, 4th World Ceramic Biennale, Korea
Selected Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
2012-2013
Shaping the Void, National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny; Wandesford Quay Gallery, Cork, Ireland; Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris, France
2003+2008
Deirdre McLoughlin, Peppercanister Gallery, Dublin
Group Exhibitions and Fairs
2013
Future Beauty?, National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny
2012
COLLECT, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK,
Deirdre McLoughlin, Marian Bijlenga, Geer Steyn & Thijs Buit Galerie De Kapberg, Egmond aan den Hoef, The Netherlands
2011
VUE: National Contemporary Art Fair, Peppercanister Gallery, Dublin
transFORM, Farmleigh Gallery, Dublin
2007-2010
VAN/VOOR, CBK, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 15A Galerie en Beeldentuin, Lochem
Wat van ver komt…, Kunst is Kunst Galerie, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Art & Antiques Fair, Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
2010
RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin (also 2008, 2006, 2005)
Select, Peppercanister Gallery, Dublin
2009
Keramik Europas Westerwaldpreis, Hohr-Grenzhausen, Germany
Eenvoud, Museum Nagele, The Netherlands
From Traditional Expression to Modern Context, Indiana State University, USA
2008
VII Ceramic Congress, Afyon Kocatepe University, Turkey, WALL & PLINTH, Peppercanister Gallery, Dublin
2007
4th World Ceramic Biennale, Korea
Irish Contemporary Ceramics, National Museum of Ireland, Dublin
Gallery Representation
Contact Details:
Deirdre McLoughlin
Atelier 1, Xpositron
Elektronstraat 12-14
1014 AP Amsterdam
The Netherlands
T. +31 20 6221846
E. d.mcloughlin@chello.nl
www.deirdremcloughlin.com