Artist Alan Merdith is launching his first solo exhibition in Laois Arthouse on May 11 in Stradbally.
The exhibition remains open until June 21 Tuesday to Friday and is open from 1pm to 4pm.
Alan is a sculptor and contemporary artist who has held exhibitions of his work in New York and London.
He has won many awards for his work such as ‘Laois Exporter of the Year’ in 2019 and ‘Future Maker of the Year’ in 2017.
This exhibition, titled ‘Quereu – The Oak’, “draws together separate, but related, ideas that the artist has been exploring in his practice for several years and reveals, if not the culmination of them, then certainly an advanced continuation and heightened expression of these ideas”.
The artist grew up at ‘The Oak’ in County Laois and it is there that his studio and workshops are now placed. As well as this, his home place has had a profound influence on his work.
He began working with wood at an early age taking huge interest in both craftsmanship but also timber as an artistic vessel. It is here that he first began experimenting with oak.
The artist believes that oak has major significance in both “heritage and tradition” and his artwork appeals to both artists themselves and craftspeople.
Oak has been a crucial component in many of his other works such as Curio Cabinet, The Residual Geometry, and The Dearcán Vessels which have earned him many awards both at home and abroad.
Alan is also taking part in a talk conducted by Roger Bennett on June 7 this year. Roger is a woodturner and makes distinctive bowls and vessels decorated with coloured wood dyes.
Roger Grew up in Knockaroo, County Laois but his work has taken him across the country and abroad.
Some of Alan’s work is pictured below:
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