Ann Kavanagh
Ann Kavanagh visual artist residing and working in Dublin, originally from Kilkenny. Her practice is primarily focuses on printmaking and photography. In 2004 she graduated from IADT with an honour’s degree in Fine Art. In 2003 she received a Graduate Award to the Graphic Studio and Blackchurch Print studios, Dublin.
- Graphic Studio Gallery – Feb 2024 new prints have been selected alongside prints of Felim Egan (deceased) who was a visiting artist to the studio. Our work has a common monochromatic appearance.
- Ballinglen Arts Foundation – won the Céide Ladle Award at the 1st Ballinglen Biennial Exhibition 2023.
- Cairde Visual – the Model Sligo
- imPRESSions Printmaking Biennial, Galway – Award winner 2004
- Royal Ulster Academy – Annual exhibition, Belfast
- Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair (London),
- dlrLexicon, Dun Laogharie
- Éigse Carlow Arts Festival
- EV+A Limerick City Gallery of Art
- Bankside Gallery, London
- International Mokuhanga Conference – Hawaii and Nara, Japan,
- Guanlan International Print Biennial, China.
Ann has participated in residencies namely at MI-LAB – Japan, Crown Point Press – San Francisco, Druckstella – Berlin and Cill Rialaig Arts Centre – Kerry.
2019 selected for Skills Transfer Program at the National Print Museum funded by Creative Ireland and presently facilitates Mokuhanga print workshops at the Museum.
About Ann’s work
Her work is inspired by architectural elements to create a visual interpretation of her urban surroundings. The aesthetics of manmade structural forms, fused with the ordinary to give a type of fragmented sensitivity, delicateness and refinement, the work presents a serene and solemn calm that is finished into carefully constructed prints. These squares may float or glow softly against an indeterminates ground; and give a considerable feeling of depth and recession.
The printing process for her is a response to the materials themselves, drawing by erasing lines to create lines on woodblocks, editing until a composition begins to emerge. Each print develops in conjunction with one another slowly, precise, repetitive and with considered findings which adds to their formation. As her surroundings become more intense, her emotive response is created by layers and depth of colour, contrast, and surfaces.
She has begun to expand her practice into books with her prints and these 3D formations allows you to further see the super imposed grids and embossed structures.
Ann shares the minimalist approach of Felim Egan. Simple irregular structures of colour punctuate the space, which is a common bond between both artists. The tendency towards refinement is another similarity, while not curtailing free expression through the line.