Margo Banks

The role of drawing is fundamental to my work. These drawings of crows and animals are sometimes prefaces to paintings, and sometimes a relaxation from them. They are works in their own right.

They are witnesses to the changes in the landscape of Teeromoyle in South West Kerry – my mother’s place.

My mother died quite young but I was reared on her stories about her childhood in the mountains, so family and a sense of place haunts my work. My mother’s past is my past. Her parent’s house is long gone but the field where the house was remains unchanged and I have painted this field many times.

Painting the field sometimes makes me feel snug, warm and sheltered and other times exposed, vulnerable and turbulent. I remove layers of earth while adding layers of paint

This is my subject matter, not the meaning of my paintings

 

Solo Exhibitions – Painting/Drawing

– Greenlane Gallery Dingle Co Kerry, July 2020

– Seamus Ennis Art Centre Co. Dublin February 2020

-Goma Waterford October 2020

-Solomon Gallery Dublin July 2019

-Greenlane Gallery Dingle Co. Kerry November 2018

-Origin Gallery Dublin September 2018

– Origin Gallery Dublin May 2017

-United Arts Club Dublin, October 2017

– The Russell Gallery with Artist Brian Gallagher, The Burren, Co Clare September 2016

– Origin Gallery Dublin May 2015

– United Arts Club Dublin September 2014

– Draiocht Arts Centre Dublin May 2014

– Cill Rialaig Arts Centre Kerry May 2013

Origin Gallery Dublin March 2012

Dungarvan Arts Centre, Co Waterford February 2012  

– United Arts Club Dublin April 2011

– Henry Gilmore Gallery Belfast November 2010

– Blue Leaf Gallery Dublin September 2010

– United Arts Club Dublin April 2009

– Blue Leaf Gallery Dublin April 2008

– Cill Rialaig Arts Centre April 2007

– Blue Leaf Gallery Dublin May 2005

– Blue Leaf Gallery Dublin September 2002

 

Upcoming Solo Exhibitions

The Solomon Gallery Dublin June 2021

 

Group Exhibitions – Painting/Drawing

– Solomon Gallery Dublin 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

– Blue Leaf Gallery 2001 – 2011

– United Arts Club 2001 – 2016

– The Moreton Gallery, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucerstershire UK 2015

– Selected Annual Exhibition Greenlane Gallery Dingle 2005 – 2019

– Selected Group Exhibition on White Tailed Eagle – Muckross Gallery 2008

– Group Summer Show Backstage Theatre Longford 2002

– Group Show Bank of Ireland Arts Centre 2002

– Oireachtas Annual Exhibition 2002 – Open Submission

– Eigse Carlow 2003 – Open Submission

 

Selected Annual Group Exhibitions – Sculpture/Painting

 

– Boyle Arts Festival 2017

– Invited Artist – Royal Hibernian Academy Dublin 2014

– Amsterdam Art Fair 2013 

– Royal Ulster Academy of Art Open Submission 2005,2006,2007,2008, 2017,2018

– RHA Annual Group Exhibition 2020, (1987,1988,1989 and 1991 for sculpture)

– Royal Ulster Academy of Art Annual Exhibition 1993 (sculpture)

 

Public Commissions

 

– Sculpture – Defender’s Row Plaque – Dundalk

– Sculpture – Morrigan’s Ravens – Dundalk

 

 

Work Purchased by Public Bodies

– Night Hare -The Office of Public Works, 2012

– An Undulating Silence – The Office of Public Works, 2005

– Seguiría  – The Office of Public Works, 2005

– Field – Enterprise Ireland, 2005

 

 

 

Residencies/Fellowships

 

– Fellowship at Ballinglen Museum of Contemporary Art, Co Mayo, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019,   

  2021

-Cill Rialaig Art Centre, Co Kerry, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021

– Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Annaghmakerrig, Co Monaghan, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005,   2006, 2011,

  2019

– Oberpfalzer Kunstlerhaus, Schwandorf, Germany September 2009