Luan Gallery is delighted to host Limerick Printmakers at 20, an exhibition of new works on paper celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the opening of Limerick Printmakers and its history to date.

2019 marks twenty years since the formation of Limerick Printmakers (LP), a printmaking studio
and creative space that has in the intervening years, become an integral part of the cultural landscape of the mid-west with over sixty active studio members. Formed in 1999 by Melissa O’ Brien, Claire Boland, and Kari Fry; then recent graduates of the Limerick School of Art & Design’s (LSAD) printmaking department, Limerick Printmakers has evolved into an active studio that emphasises creativity, inclusivity, community and experimentation. The studio now delivers a diverse remit designed to promote and champion printmaking as an art form through education, artist residencies, exhibitions, graduate awards, printmaking and multidisciplinary projects, national and international collaborations, along with a vibrant community engagement programme.

LP at 20 is also a declaration of intent by the studio of its commitment to continuing to facilitate and support the creativity of a diverse group of talented artists, printmakers and photographers in the Midwest of Ireland and beyond. LP is proud to collaborate with the Luan Gallery in staging this exhibition.

Carmel Duffy, Manager of Luan Gallery says:

“We are delighted to collaborate with Limerick Printmakers on the occasion of their 20^th anniversary. It is testament to LP’s incredible community of talented artists, administrators, educators and directors that it has reached this milestone practicing its core values of support, encouragement, community, education, inclusivity and above all creativity and passion for printmaking.

This contemporary printmaking show will afford Midland audiences and artists the opportunity to view a wonderful collection of work produced by 23 LP artists at varying career stages using a range of printmaking techniques.

By showcasing this wonderful new collection of work at Luan Gallery, we hope it will expand audiences for Limerick Printmakers, generate new connections and create opportunities for its members and future collaborations.”

To best showcase the breadth of artistic practice that exists within the current studio cohort of studio members, Limerick Printmakers invited a cross section of established, mid-career and emerging artists to each make two editions of new large-scale work using subject matter of their own choice. The artists profiles span age ranges, printmaking preferences, and approaches to their process but are unified by the importance printmaking plays in realising their work.

The resultant collection of new large-scale prints illustrates the innovation, technical prowess, and spirit of experimentation that is central to printmaking, an expansive art form that encompasses fine art alongside elements of both design and craft. Printmaking techniques utilised by the artists include a range of both relief and intaglio techniques including aquatint; silkscreen, monotype, collograph, and stone lithography, with individual artists also incorporating the use of hand cast plates, embossment, chine collé, gold foil, and hand stitching.

The artists contributing to this exhibition are Eoin Barry, Deitrich Blodau, Mike Byrne, Aine Finnegan, Brian Fitzgerald, Deirdre Gallagher, Helena Grimes, Gavin Hogg, Carol Kennedy, Dan Kenny, David Lilburn, Des MacMahon, Ultan McAvinue, Mary O’ Dea, Tony O’ Loughlin, Suzannah O’ Reilly, Kate O’ Shea, Fiona Quill, Rowena Quill, Jim Sheehy, Verona Stellet, Clodagh Twomey and Isabella Walsh.

Jessica Tobin, Director of Limerick Printmakers explains:

“Celebrating twenty years of Limerick Printmakers is obviously an ideal opportunity to look back on developments that the studio has made, often in challenging circumstances.  I strongly believe that it is now vital to look to the future and to continue to be ambitious for the studio itself, its cohort of studio members and for contemporary printmaking as a whole. Printmaking is such an adaptive, dynamic art form that is only elevated and enhanced by its core ethos of sharing knowledge, techniques, and physical spaces. The concept of community is integral to printmaking and active studio spaces are central to this. Just as vital for artists are spaces and opportunities to exhibit their work at a local, national and international level.

We are delighted that Limerick Printmakers premiere exhibition with the Luan Gallery commemorates such an important milestone in the studio’s history, and that the studio’s past, present and future is reflected in such a heterogeneous and inclusive body of work.”