Borris artist Mary Ronayne to exhibit at prestigious New York art fair
Scenes from the 'Wallpaper' series of paintings that Mary will present at The Armory art fair
TAKING inspiration from pastoral wallpaper scenes that originated in Ireland, artist Mary Ronayne has produced a stunning series of paintings that will exhibit at a New York art fair next month.
Mary grew up in Borris and attended Borris Secondary School before studying fine art at TU Dublin, the history of art in Cardiff and obtaining a master’s degree from the National College of Art and Design, Dublin. She now lives and works in Co Kildare.
“I’m just delighted,” said Mary of the news that her work will be exhibited at the elite art fair in the USA. “It’s fairly rare to get into the Armory Show. For me, it’s actually such an important one.”
The Armory Show has been a cornerstone of New York’s cultural landscape since 1994 and was named in honour of the historic 1913 Armory Show exhibition.
This is the second time that her work will have made it to the international art fair. Last year, a series she produced based on darkly coloured images of the River Barrow were really popular in the Asian art market.
The wallpaper series that she will present this year was originally intended for a gallery exhibition. It is an investigation into the long and often overlooked history of interior wall decoration across different cultures.
Wallpaper, a ubiquitous element in our domestic environments, becomes a record of human aspiration, taste, status, fashion, and cultural exchange in Mary’s hands. By looking at the patterns that have adorned interiors across different periods and societies, Mary explores how people have used decoration to construct environments and, in turn, construct identities.
Her paintings combine enamel and domestic paints, producing the distinctive tension between glossy, vitreous surfaces and more restrained matte textures. Using enamel paint, she creates a gooey, farcical look, which has become an unmistakable part of her visual identity.
She is represented by HOFA Gallery in Mayfair, London, has produced solo exhibitions and participated in group shows.
This next show in New York, a city of constantly changing interiors, architecture, migration and visual influence, is a particularly appropriate territory for Mary’s body of work.
The show takes place at the Javits Center between 24-27 September.
