Joan Finnegan is a visual artist from Galway, with a BA in Fine Art from ATU, whose visual style is inspired by the rich and diverse landscape of her local surroundings, including the breathtaking Connemara. She uses these visual elements to influence but not dictate her paintings, using them as points of departure to create her art. Her artwork departs from traditional landscape depictions, employing bold shapes and vibrant colors to evoke curiosity and wonder.
Each painting is a snapshot of a captured memory, and the colours and shapes that this memory evokes. The painting then develops organically from there, the memories distilled as it develops on her easel.
Joan has exhibited nationally and internationally and has had solo exhibitions including Connemara Chroma in WI. USA, at the invitation of Galway 2020, Sunchyme at Shorelines Arts Festival 2022 and As I See It at Clifden Arts Festival 2023.
Her work was selected for the Royal Ulster Academy in 2023 and 2020, and she has exhibited in many group shows including Galway International Arts Festival at Kennys, the Hyde Bridge Gallery Sligo, Outset Gallery Galway, Courthouse Gallery Ennistymon, Farmleigh House and Westival. She is also a member of Engage Art Studios. Joan is collaborating with Connemara Carpets, an artisan of handmade wool and silk rugs and wall hangings, creating a new series of wall-hangings for their portfolio.
She was awarded a Culture Ireland grant in 2019 to bring her solo show to the USA and was the recipient of an Arts Council Agility Award in 2023. Her work forms part of public collections including the Irish Consulate in Chicago, Galway City Council, ATU, National Water Safety National Collection, the Dean Hotel Group and Corporate Concierge, Bermuda.
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