Showcasing work by Mandy Cheng, CK53 Designs, Ciara Connelly, Sinead Fagan, Caro Foley, Cillian Gibbons, Mara Designs, Eileen Singleton, Anastasia Stepanova and Bernadette Tuite.

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Mandy Cheng's porcelain works are designed to look graceful and minimalist, they conjure a feeling of lightness and a sense of movement. Her signature mesmerizing patterns mimic the vivid diversity of nature but are not painted on. Using traditional Nerikomi method, the patterns are meticulously prepared by repeated cutting and layering of porcelain sheets. Her hands-on approach ensures every pattern is unique and unrepeatable. Being creative and technically minded, Mandy mastered the skills needed to overcome the combined challenges of the natural fragility of porcelain, the complex. https://mcporcelain.blogspot.com/

CK53 Designs Pat Murphy designs and creates a range of contemporary wooden gifts for the home.  His “CK53 Design” brand was born in the picturesque village of Kildorrery in North Co. Cork. Stylish yet practical, his work presents a modern interpretation of traditional wooden items including butter knives, chopping boards, coasters and interiors. Working with sustainable hardwoods, Pat, a self-taught woodworker, strives to captures the natural colour of the more exotic woods, providing a fabulous accent to his bespoke pieces. Visit Pat’s website here: https://ck53design.ie

Ciara Connelly graduated in Textile Design and explores art, heritage, biodiversity, and place. Her artworks invite us to follow the evolution of the work as she translates place into pattern.  Over time, her preparatory pieces have become standalone works, revealing the struggle between experience and expression. Influenced by her Co. Waterford roots, her work recalls family landscapes and memories, capturing the textures of a partially remembered past.Working with repurposed fabrics and threads, she imagines the familiar yet shifting landscapes of her heritage. Her work honours traditional female crafts, where stitching has historically marked milestones and preserved stories. Her work celebrates women’s artistry and the balance between nature and those who shape it.

Sinéad Fagan has trained with the Craft Council ofIreland in Kilkenny, and graduated from the Crawford College of Art and Design in 2011. In her final year, she jointly won the Lavit Gallery/ Cork ArtsSociety’s Student of the Year Award, and had her first solo show at the Lavit Gallery, Cork in 2012. Her work was chosen to be included in the2018 edition of Encyclopedia of Pottery Techniques by Peter Consentino, published by Quarto. Irish potter Nicholas Mosse, reviewed her work in the 2021 summer edition of the Irish Arts Review Vol. 38 No.2 magazine. 'Underwater Cavern' Halo Vessel 2020 won the Sculpture Prize at the Royal Ulster Academy of Arts (RUA) in Belfast in October 2021. Sinéad was featured in a New York Times article by Sandra Jordan, published onDecember 4th 2022. www.sineceramics.com

Caro Foley is an artist originally from Texas, whose creative journey has been shaped by constant movement and exploration. Deeply inspired by the natural world, Caro initially found a passion for ceramics, leading to a degree in Applied Art. It was during this time that they discovered a profound love for metal smithing and the creation of wearable art jewellery.Today Caro continues to blend these two disciplines, crafting unique pieces that reflect their diverse experiences and a deep connection to nature. Instagram @carofoleystudio

Cillian Gibbons lives and makes ceramics near the sea in west Cork. Close to her home is Lough Hyne nature reserve where marine bioluminescence can be seen at night. Cillian’s work in translucent bone-china is influenced by bioluminescence and phytoplankton shapes. She makes the pieces as thin as possible to allow light to shine through. The heat of the kiln organically pulls the delicate forms, and the painted marks of copper oxide are reminiscent of marine plankton patterns. The work is handmade, and slip cast fine bone-china. She makes pieces designed to be lit internally such as lamps and night light holders as well as small series of bowls. Cillian is a graduate of Crawford College of Art and Design. www.cillian.com

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Muireann Carroll - Mara Designs is a contemporary jewellery maker, specialising in hand made Titanium, Silver, Gold and Pearl jewellery inspired by the sea. Muireann works from her home close to the Nire Valley in rural County Waterford, and believes passionately in creating comfortable, light pieces of jewellery that’ll become heirlooms of the future. To keep Ireland and the planet wild, Mara Designs packaging is recyclable, all silver and gold is reclaimed and 5% of profits go to St.Vincent de Paul. https://www.mara-designs.org/

‍Eileen Singleton’s enduring interest in clay lies in the varied qualities inherent in the material. In exploring the material she has discovered numerous and varied ways of capturing texture in clay. The textures are reflected images of details of the landscape which she sees on her daily walks. She rarely use glazes, preferring texture of the naked clay surface. She uses slips and underglaze stains in repeat firings to emphasize the texture of the work. She lives and works in Co.Waterford. See more of Eileen’s work here: https://www.instagram.com/eileensingleton8

Anastasia Stepanova studied Architecture at University of Bologna in Italy, and worked in different areas of design before turning to jewellery design. Her silver jewellery making adventure started in St John’s Central College in Cork in 2015, where she was instantly captivated by the magic of working with metal. She creates her jewellery with recycled silver using traditional silversmithing techniques, and in silver metal clay, an innovative material created with pure silver particles, offering infinite possibilities as it is soft and malleable but turns into pure silver after firing at elevated temperatures. Her brandname is 37 blackbirds - www.37blackbirds.com

Bernadette Tuite After many years in California where Bernadette worked as a boat captain she returned to Ireland. She reinvented herself through an Art education, completing her Pottery Skills and Design Degree in Thomastown and her Applied Art Degree studies , in Cork, obtaining multiple awards. Today she works from Backwater Artist Studios in Cork city and exhibits her Ceramic work nationally and internationally. Recently, Bernadette joined the teaching staff at Crawford College of Art and Design, Cork, in the Ceramics Department. www.bernadettetuite.com

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Exhibition visitors can submit a free entry in our draw to win a €50 voucher for a local small independent business. This exhibition is supported by Shop Local Tipperary.