In the Grid is Elva Mulchrone’s affective response to her Fulbright award and project in 2024/5, and the totality of the extraordinary variety and depth of research at the Graduate Center CUNY. Pieces represent her response to being in the hub of NYC and personally experiencing its striking inequalities, controls, vibrations, collective anxiety and social climate.

Mulchrone meditates on the research and immersion in working groups to offer a reflection on being In the Grid and feeling its pulse from an oblique angle.

Abstract work explores the city’s complex relationship with recurrent patterns and alludes to the control exercised by structures and systems together with indomitable human spirit. Paintings explore medium and colour and feature disconnected and obstructed mapping. Forms and colours are perhaps trying to break free beyond their prescribed boundary, at once helpless yet defiant, perhaps driven to abstraction.

Pieces, primarily paintings on linen, canvas and paper, some incorporating silkscreen, together with installation work, ruminate on patterns concerning inequality, social mobility and disconnected public policy running through the avenues of the grid.

Elva Mulchrone is the recipient of awards including a Fulbright Scholarship to the Graduate Center CUNY, NYC, 2024/5, a fellowship and 2026 Residency at Ballinglen Museum of Art, Dublin City Council Incubation Space Award 2024, Visual Artist in Residence 2022/23 at Dublin City University (DCU), The Thomas Dammann Trust Award, Mainie Jellet Travel Bursary, Emerging Artist Bursary, DLR and an Agility Award from the Arts Council of Ireland.

Presentation highlights include solo shows include Before…After, The Graduate Center CUNY, (2025); Eudaiomonia dreaming, DCU (2023); Building Blocks, Blyth Gallery, London, (2020); Irrational Exuberance, Eight Gallery, (2018); selected recent group exhibitions: The Hunt Museum Open, (2026); Ballinglen Museum Biennial Exhibition, (2025); At days end, the whole sky (2 person show with Brian Duggan) Rathfarnham Castle OPW, (2024); Premise, Queen Alexandra’s House, London, (2024); The 193rd RHA Annual Exhibition, (2023); Boyle Arts Festival, (2023), Art on Paper, NYC, and Context, Art Miami.

Elva Mulchrone holds an MA in Painting from the Royal College of Art, London, a BA (Honours) in Painting from The National College of Art & Design, and is an alumnus of Trinity College Dublin.

Her work is in many public, corporate and private collections.