Award winning Irish artist Bernadette Doolan, living in Wexford, is winner of the best overall work by a non-Academician, and winner of the Irish News award for depicting Ireland today, in The Royal Ulster Academy annual exhibition.
Bernadette was selected for The Ruth Borchard self-portrait Exhibition, the UK’s only public collection of self-portraits by British and Irish artists. The Ruth Borchard Collection represents the very best of twentieth-century and contemporary self-portraiture.
Bernadette explores the fragility of identity in the context of childhood through much of her recent work. Her figurative work is the depiction of the human self through exploration of strength and vulnerabilities. Her work has been described as having an ‘emotional weight with psychological intensity that is not necessarily representing the physical, but one’s internal voice.
Working through painting (Oils and Acrylic), sculpture and Installation art, she approaches topics of social conscience with sensitivity and respect, to explore the intangible notion of truth. Doolan acknowledges vulnerability whilst not apportioning blame. This is left to the relevant parties, as an artist her role is to bring awareness and allow the space for the individual to question.
Solo Shows
2020 – GOMA, Gallery of Modern Art, Waterford
2020 – Limerick City Museum
2015 – Inner child – Copperhouse Gallery, Dublin
2015 – 196 Exhibition – Copperhouse Gallery, Dublin
Group Shows
2021 – Art Beijing, China
2021 – RHA (Royal Hibernian Academy) Dublin
2021 – Society Women Artists, UK
2021 – Bath Society Artists, U.K.
2020 – Bath Society Artists, U.K.
2020 – Society Women Artists, UK
2020 – RHA (Royal Hibernian Academy) Dublin
2019 – RUA (Royal Ulster Academy)
2019 – Society Women Artists, UK, Rosemary & Co award 2019.
2019 – Cairde Visual Sligo
2019 – Crawford Gallery – Seen not Heard Exhibition – invited artist
2019 – The Biennial Ruth Borchard Self-Portrait Prize
2019 – RHA (Royal Hibernian Academy) Dublin
2018 – RUA (Royal Ulster Academy) – Irish News Award Winner for Ireland today
2018 – South West Academy (SWAc England)
2018 – RWA (Royal West of England Academy)
2017 – Edinburg Art Fair
2017 – RUA (Royal Ulster Academy)
2017 – RHA (Royal Hibernian Academy) Dublin
2016 – RUA (Royal Ulster Academy) 196 Sculpture Installation
2016 – Wexford Fesitval Opera Gallery
2015 – RUA (Royal Ulster Academy) best overall award best work by non RUA academician
2014 – Art Fair RDS Dublin
2012 – Sculpture in Context Botanic Gardens Dublin
2012 – Meanscoil Gharman, Wexford Artist in Residence – Creative Engagement
2010 – Green Acres. Wexford
2010 – (annually from 2005 inclusive) – Art Ireland Autumn Show RDS Dublin
2009 – (annually from 2005 inclusive) – Art Ireland Spring Show RDS Dublin
2008 – Gifted, Wexford Arts Centre Wexford
2008 – Wexford Opera Festival, Wexford
2008 – Group Exhibition, Zozimus Galley Dublin
2007 – BT2 Dublin, Group Exhibition for Focus Ireland
2005 – Wexford Opera Festival.
Invited Artist
2019 – Youyi, Hangzhou, Shanghai, China
2019 – Crawford Gallery – Seen not Heard Exhibition – invited artist
2018 – Siddhartha Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal
2018 – KAMERA8 Painting is Dead Group show – Curated by Anya von Gosseln
2018 – KAMERA8 Christmas Group show – Curated by Anya von Gosseln
2018 – Boyle Arts Festival Exhibition
2018 – Arusha Gallery – Edinburgh
2014 – Watts Up, Bernardaud Foundation, Limoges – France
2016 – Newtownbarry House Exhibition
2011 – Green Acres Gallery Wexford
2007 – Bank of Ireland HQ.
2005 – Brown Thomas Dublin, Commission Shoe Rooms launch
2004 – Eígse Arts Festival Carlow.
2003 – Newtownbarry House Bunclody, Wexford
Accolades
2021 – Invited as a full member of Society Women Artists
2021 – Shortlisted for the John Richardson French residency award
2020 – Invited as Associate member Society Women Artists London
2019 – Society Women Artists, London, Rosemary & Co Award
2018 – Royal Ulster Academy, Irish News award, depicting Ireland today
2015 – Royal Ulster Academy, Silver Perpetual award for best work by a non-academician