Olwen Kelly

Olwen Kelly is a mixed media artist based in Dublin. She is a graduate of the National College of Art and Design and Ballyfermot College of Further Education.

Her projects take inspiration from Irish history, the Industrial Schools system has been a particular focus of recent work. Environmental themes are also a recurrent theme in her artworks, she frequently uses found objects and found fabrics as well as experimental materials such as bio plastics and luffa sponges to create her textured and multilayered pieces. The processes of sampling, remaking, dismantling and creating multiples are key elements of her practice. 

Her most recent work ‘Nests’, created with the help of an Agility Award from the Arts Council of Ireland, was created in response to salvaged items of clothing which she recovered from the laundry on the former site of Clifden Industrial School in Co. Galway.

She has won a number of awards for her work including a Global Undergraduate Award for Ireland and The Visual Loop x NCADSU Professional Development Mentorship Award. She was also shortlisted for the NCAD Staff Prize.

Her works have been exhibited at Clifden Arts Festival in both a solo capacity and in association with art and archaeology collective ‘The Inishlyon Project’. Her work has also been exhibited at Dublin Castle as part of the Keep Well exhibition with the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland.