Keel is an exhibition by Mary O’Connor where she explores the roots that gave rise to one of the most important elements of her practice – colour. Influenced by two worlds, diametrically opposed to each other on the globe. New Zealand and Ireland. Initiated into one and matured into the other her Visual Art practice is a marriage of both worlds. The Keel symbolically acts as the central element connecting both of these realities now merging as one. The paintings and prints in this exhibition exploit numerous possibilities summed up following a recent visit to New Zealand, and are conveyed through shape, space, colour and gestural mark making that emerge as non-representational abstract compositions.

Antipodes : Balance : Ballast : Central : Cloud : Colour : Currents : Deep : Depth Diametric : Draft : Drift : Drop : Fall : Fixed : Floating : Grounding : Hemisphere Hidden : Lean Linier : Movement : Mystery : Northern : Ocean : Opposites : Passage Polar : Port : Pressure Reverse : Righting : Ripple : Rise : Silence : Sonar Southern : Stability : Starboard : Swing : Tilt : Underside : Wave

Mary is a visual artist living in Dublin. Born in Wexford she studied visual communication and 3D design at DIT in Dublin, and painting at Chelsea College of Art, London and in New Zealand. She has lived in Belize and (for eleven years) in Kazakhstan. During her time there she published two books of photojournalism on Central Asia. She repatriated in 2014.
A member of Black Church Print Studio, Mary has been selected for many group exhibitions including the RHA Annual Exhibition, RUA Annual Exhibition and Cairde. Her work is included in many public and private collections including The Office of Public Works, The Environmental Protection Agency, Wexford County Council Collection, The Devlin Hotel, Holles St. Hospital Collection, Beat FM Waterford and CITI. She has completed a commission for four large-scale wall murals in Capitol Dock, Dublin. She participated in OVER NATURE, a touring exhibition, curated by Valeria Ceregini. and is recipient of the Galway County Council Purchase prize, Impressions Biennale 2019, and most recently was commisioned for DLR Artworks Home, supported by The Arts Council of Ireland.