Bernadette Doolan’s work explores the fragility of the human condition primarily through depicting aspects of childhood. This interest relates to the resilience and strength children own even through their vulnerabilities. It is perspective explored through reflection of her own childhood and an awareness of how socialization modifies our behavior’s. The sense of vulnerability which a child can experience is more often than not where our strengths reside. 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’.
Doolan makes art about resilience. The young girls in her paintings are conduits for potentially conflicting emotions, including vulnerability and strength.
Doolan works intuitively, making the first mark or gesture with the instincts of childhood, without over-planning. “I want to honour the spirit of childhood, of getting back up,” she says. “When we fall over, we fall out of our heart and into our head and then everything is decided by our head not our heart. Everything starts getting influenced by thought processes about whether that should or should not be done.” Her work is a cry of resistance against an over-reliance on adult logic and judgement, or perhaps a call for a return to the wisdom of early intuition.
As a self-taught artist Bernadette started out making ceramic sculpture and her practice developed into painting. She doesn’t constrain herself to one medium but instead allows both to feed and stimulate her creative expression.
In June 2023 Bernadette had a solo exhibition at Source, Tipperary, she was an invited artist to Philadelphia 2022, Youyi, Art Beijing, China (2021), Youyi, Hangzhou, China (2019), Irish artists in Nepal, Katmandu, India (2018), Seen and not heard, Crawford Gallery, Cork (2019), Cairde Visual, Model Arts Centre, Sligo (2019) and Watts Up, Bernardaud Foundation, Limoges, France 2014.
Doolan also exhibits regularly in the annual group shows at the Royal Hibernian Academy, Royal Ulster Academy, Society Women Artists London, Bath Society Artists, South West Academy U.K., and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters. Awarded the Perpetual Silver Prize by the Royal Ulster Academy (2015), Irish News Award by the Royal Ulster Academy (2018), and the Rosemary & Co. Award by the Society Women Artists London (2019), Doolan was also shortlisted for the Ruth Borchard Self-Portrait Exhibition (2019), and the John Richardson Residency, France (2021). Her work is held in the Wexford County Collection and in private collections nationally and internationally.
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 |