New Exhibition 2025: Moments of Being

18 January – 15 March 2025. Solstice Arts Centre, Navan

Laura Fox, Paul Hallahan, Elizabeth Magill, Colin Martin, Ciarraí MacCormac, Eleanor McCaughey, Eve O’Callaghan, Lesley-Ann O’Connell, William O’Neill, Ciara Roche, Annette Smyth, Mark Swords, Lee Welch
Curated by Brenda McParland

A group exhibition exploring the diversity of approaches to painting by a selection of some of the most interesting Irish artists working today. The exhibition includes figurative, abstract, experimental, open and expanded painting practices by established, midcareer and emerging artists. Ideas and themes explored include personal narratives, observations of everyday life, the body, identity and place, the natural world, contemporary culture, history, politics, the real and the virtual, and the materiality and essence of painting.

More information here.

New Work – Series Title: “Work In Progress”

Absent Presence. Graphite on paper, 50x90cm, © 2025

Handmade. Graphite on Fabriano. 45x49cm (approx) © 2025

Work in Three Panels (2024). Acrylic on Linen, 70cm x 200cm

Work in Four Panels (2024) Acrylic On Linen. 70cm x 200cm 2024

I paint what I am visually drawn to… objects, people or scenes that I feel compelled to.
At the moment I am painting building sites or more specifically the image that I see when a curtain hides the work in progress of a building site. I like the complexity of the angles and lines, shapes and colours. I also like the temporary nature of the hoarding/curtain. That it is hiding something and all will be revealed in time. Everything is a ‘work in progress’ and it is this ‘progress’ that I am drawn to.
I recently painted my son at 18, he too is a ‘work in progress’
I am interested in the technical aspect of painting… application, colour mixing and truth.

Annette Smyth
August 2024

Previous related work, Abbey St. (2023)

Previous related work, Yellow Hoarding 2 (2022)