Taken from ‘Irish Arts Review’ magazine, Spring 2007.

New Gallery For Kilkenny

The search for a venue that successfully combines studio and gallery space can be a challenging one, but the artists John Walsh and Colette O’Brien have found a suitable space in the spectacular landscape of north County Kilkenny. Their new venture, the Hillside Art Gallery will feature watercolour, oil pen and ink drawings, mosaic, pottery and sculpture. At present, they are working on a body of work to exhibit during Kilkenny Arts Festival this summer, of which their hand-made Venetian smalti (imported Italian tiles) wil feature strongly.

Walsh is a ceramicist who makes large scale pots, jugs and bowls along the lines of Grecian earthenware, which O’Brien then decorates in a mosaic fashion using the Venetian smalti. A variety of wall hung pieces will also be shown, while garden sculptures in the grounds of the studio work in conjunction with the landscape of Donoughmore.