Beauty of Laois to be showcased in Ballyfin artist’s first solo exhibition

The beauty of Laois is set to be showcased by Ballyfin artist Kathleen Gilligan in her first solo exhibition which opens next week.

Kathleen has been painting for thirty years and her love of art stems from encouragement from her grandmother at a young age.

Speaking to the Leinster Express /Laois Live this week Kathleen said the idea for the exhibition came about when the curator at ‘The Gallery of Divine Inspiration’ in Bloom HQ in Mountrath knocked on her door.

“Kevin McCann arrived at my door in November last asking if I would be interested in holding an exhibition of my work,” she said.

“A big thanks to Kevin and Bloom HQ for taking the decision to showcase upcoming local artists, as I wouldn’t have this opportunity without them.

“It’s wonderful to see all the different local artists work every month in Bloom HQ, many we might have never heard of before and it’s great to see all their work getting out into the world. This exhibition for me is my first solo exhibition, I’ve been painting every chance I could get since November and I’m very excited to be able to get the chance to show my art to the local community.”

Originally from Bondra, Colt Kathleen now lives in Ballyfin with her husband Enda.

“I’m a full time mammy to three beautiful children, Teresa (11), Katie (8), and MJ (2) and also remembering our baby girl Helena on what would be her 6th birthday on the 23rd of March. I’ve no doubt our angel is looking down of us everyday.

“I’ve always had a love for art from a very young age all thanks to my grandmother who I was fortunate to live and grow up with.

“She had me drawing and colouring from the time I was able to hold a crayon. It’s a very fond memory I have of her and how she was a stickler for keeping inside the lines. My first time to paint would have been in primary school in Raheen and I recently found my first painting I did at the age of 10 and it’s a lovely remembrance to have of where I started painting.

“As I am approaching my 40th year, I can officially say that I have been painting for in or around 30 years which is something I can say that I am truly passionate about.”

For this body of work for the exhibition Kathleen was inspired and influenced by home, nature and the outdoors with particular interest in older buildings and structures.

“All the paintings would be from around our beautiful county of Laois,” she said.

“In a good few of my paintings I seem to be drawn more so to the older structures of what once was and I think there is such beauty to see in traces of our past that we can all see around our beautiful countryside and it brings back many different memories for everyone. My work is mainly of landscapes and my preferred medium to work in is acrylic.”

Kathleen’s exhibition will open on March 29 at 7pm and will be on display for the month of April.

“For anyone that can make it on the opening night, I would firstly love to see you there to hopefully enjoy my art. I hope that my paintings will bring back lovely memories for people. The venue that will hold the exhibition ‘The Gallery of Divine Inspiration’ was previously the old private church to the Brigidine Sisters. The space itself is beautiful with stain glass windows, high ceilings, an exhibition in itself. Light refreshments will be served on the night so I do hope a cup of tea, cake and chats will be enjoyed, all the while enjoying the surroundings .

“You can also enjoy the previous exhibition ‘Honouring the Mother’ by Pauline Conroy on the opening night which will still be exhibited in the hallway for the last time.”