nono, ceramic, 30cm (L), 2019
Photographer, Rob Bohle
Waterwork, ceramic, 30 x 22 x 28cm, 2018
Photographer, Rob Bohle
Fired, ceramic, 28 x 16 x 20cm, 2018
Photographer, Rob Bohle
SHU, ceramic, 28 x 16 x 20cm, 2017
Photographer, Rob Bohle
bare bones, ceramic, 35 x 35 x 30cm, 2015
Photographer, Rob Bohle
NOO, ceramic, 48cm (L), 2014
Photographer, Rob Bohle
three from 'I am too' series, ceramic, 19cm (L), 17cm (L), 18cm (L) 2014
Photographer, Rob Bohle
White Life IV, ceramic, 30cm (L), 2008
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
Mark Rothko Art Centre Latvia
Allied Irish Bank
Farmleigh House, Dublin
Hunt Museum, Limerick
Trinity College Dublin
Selected Awards
2018 :: Shortlisted Loewe Craft Prize
2015 :: Elected member International Academy of Ceramics
2014 + 2004 :: Two times Winner Ceramics of Europe Westerwald Prize – Vessel
2011 :: 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
1991 :: National Self Portrait Collection, Ireland
Selected Exhibitions
2019
L’abstraction: L’expression essentielle, Cleff, Kim, Eastman & McLoughlin, Galerie – Le Don Du Fel, France
Ceramics of Europe Westerwald Prize, also 2014, 2009, 2004, Germany
Duo: Showing: Deirdre McLoughlin & Rob Regeer, Galerie Franzis Engels, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Intonation: Symposium and Exhibition, Deidesheim, Germany
KICB: Korean International Ceramic Biennale
2018
Contained, Contenu, Museum Ariana, Geneva, Switzerland
Loewe Craft Prize, Design Museum, London, UK
Duo: Deirdre McLoughlin & Pierre Lafoucriere, Clara Scremini Galerie, Paris, France
2017
Shadow of Sodeisha: Japanese & Irish Art, National Museum of Ireland
VUE with Peppercanister Gallery, also 2016, 2015 + 2011, RHA, Dublin
Touchstone; Ceramics Ireland, Farmleigh Galley, Dublin
2016
Duo: Deirdre McLoughlin & Beatrijs van Rheeden, Galerie Terra Delft, The Netherlands
Is Getekend, Galerie Franzis Engels, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2015
art KARLSRUHE and Art Breda with Galerie Franzis Engels Germany / Belgium
Residency/Exhibition, Sitka Centre for Art & Ecology, winter 2015/16, Oregon, USA
2014
Europe & Beyond, Dublin Castle & Peppercanister Gallery, Dublin
Life Lines, Galerie Franzis Engels, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Raw Art Fair & KunstRAI with Galerie Franzis Engels Amsterdam and Rotterdam, The Netherlands
RUA, Ulster Museum, Belfast
Luid en Duidelijk, Kuub, Utrecht, The Netherlands
2013
Sculpter le Vide, Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris, France (Solo exhibition)
Future Beauty?, National Design & Craft Gallery, Kilkenny
Janus, Peppercannister Gallery, Dublin
Three Ceramic Sculptors: Landweer, Boydell & McLoughlin, Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast
Sculptuur en Architectuur, Oude Kerk, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
LANDescape, Mark Rothko Art Centre, Latvia
2012
COLLECT, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
Shaping the Void, National Design & Craft Gallery, Kilkenny & Wandesford Quay Gallery, Cork (Solo exhibition)
Contact Details:
Deirdre McLoughlin
Atelier 23, Xpositron
Elektronstraat 12-14
1014 AP Amsterdam
The Netherlands
T. +31 20 6221846
E. d.mcloughlin@chello.nl
www.deirdremcloughlin.com