Niamh O'Malley and Temple Bar Gallery + Studios shortlisted to represent Ireland at the 59th Venice Biennale in 2022

‘Niamh O’Malley’s artwork reveals a profound appreciation for the act of trying. Trying to catch a certain slant of light, trying to prove a pattern or uncover a composition, trying to fathom a mountain, trying to hold time still. Working with the moving image, mark making and sculptural materials such as glass and wood, O’Malley’s work attempts to contain and reflect the weight and wonder of the world in its becoming. It is the act of trying, in the face of predictable failure, that gives way to conviction and a sense of hope within the artist’s work. Full of reflection, both literal and metaphorical, filled with absence and framed by negative space, O’Malley’s work asserts something unstoppable about the human spirit, something that neither distance nor death can extinguish’
- Exhibition text by Kate Strain, Director, Grazer Kunstverein, 2018

Niamh O’Malley, born Co. Mayo, is a studio member of Temple Bar Gallery + Studios, Dublin (2020-2023). O’Malley’s exhibition, Placeholder, is currently taking place at mother’s tankstation Dublin, and she is working towards a solo exhibition at John Hansard Gallery, Southampton in 2021. O’Malley has made numerous solo exhibitions in recent years including Royal Hibernian Academy (2019), Lismore Castle Arts (2019), Grazer Kunstverein (2018), Bluecoat Liverpool (2015), The Douglas Hyde Gallery, Dublin (2017 and 2015). A monograph of O’Malley’s work was published by the Royal Hibernian Academy in 2019, with texts by the artist, Claire-Louise Bennett and Isobel Harbison.

Speaking today, Minister Martin said:

“The impressive list of shortlisted parties is an indicator of the strength of Ireland’s visual arts sector and the platform of the Venice Biennale offers a key opportunity to raise the global visibility of our artists. My congratulation to the artists and curators selected, this is a true recognition and validation of the impact of your work to date as well as your vision for the Venice Biennale”.

The successful artists and curators, who were selected following an open call by Culture Ireland in partnership with the Arts Council are artist Elaine Byrne with curator Helen Carey, artist Marianne Keating with curator Miguel Amado, artist Niamh McCann with architect Peter Carroll and curators Belinda Quirke and Hugh Mulholland, artist Bea McMahon with curator Matt Packer, artist Ailbhe Ní Bhriain with curators Mary Hickson and Francis McKee and artist Niamh O’Malley with Temple Bar Gallery + Studios, curatorial team.