Sarah O’Brien

Project Studio (1 year)
2011

Sarah O’Brien’s painting practice explores the static power of words, suspended in the physical space of the paintings parameters. Studio research examines ancient, near lost forms/fragments of writing, the history of language and semiotics. Practically, the weighty and densely worked canvases explore text and words as being potentially both active and passive agents within the picture plane. This resonates with text as presented in contemporary banners, (it as an agent of activism) and early written languages and pictograms (essential and ornamental).

Sarah O’Brien (b.1980) lives and works in Kinsale, Co.Cork. Sarah O’Brien graduated from NCAD with MFA Painting in 2007. Select exhibitions include: Peripheries Open 2019, Gorey Art School, Co.Wexford (2019); Everything is in everything, Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh, Co.Cork (2019); Wish Me a Wonder, Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford (2019) and STREAM PROJECT, Sailors Home, Limerick (2018). Solo exhibitions include STRONG BRAVE STRONG, Berlin Opticians Gallery, Dublin (2019) and Very Common Glory, Pallas Contemporary Projects, Dublin (2008).

Sarah O’Brien’s work is in the collection of the Office of Public Works and she has been awarded funding from The Arts Council of Ireland and the RHA.