Made In Ireland

24/09/2022 – 21/01/2023

The F.E. McWilliam Gallery and Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council are delighted to present Made In Ireland. A celebration of the wealth and vibrancy of Ireland’s studio crafts, the exhibition presents work by over 110 craftspeople from 27 counties, each creating beautiful, considered objects using skills honed over many years. Supported by Design & Crafts Council Ireland and  managed by the creative team of Hilary Morley, Stephen O’Connell and Mary Gallagher, Made In Ireland comes to the F.E. McWilliam Gallery after successful runs at the National Design & Craft Gallery in Kilkenny and Farmleigh Gallery, Dublin.

Ireland’s makers, working in and across different sectors, are creating innovative work of high quality. Makers work in local and carefully sourced materials, across all regions of our island. Some are household names, some work away quietly perfecting their skill and promoting their work locally and regionally. The Irish public has shown itself to have a lively interest in craft, however, they are largely unaware of the diverse range and quality of work being produced in the country by skilled makers.

Selected after an open call, Made In Ireland showcases the skill of potters, glassmakers, textile artists, woodturners, basket makers, gold and silversmiths, metalsmiths and furniture makers. Exhibitors include makers of international renown as well as young, emerging artists and those who have practised quietly in areas of the country such as Clare Island, West Cork and the North Antrim Coast.  Some are members of Design & Crafts Council Ireland’s Portfolio Critical Selection, while others are makers who practise away from the spotlight and national attention.

At a time when many people are showing a considerable preference and appreciation for goods that are Irish made, we can think of no better time to create a colourful, inclusive exhibition that shows the very best of what is Made In Ireland.

Colin Davidson: Selected Paintings 1986 – 2022

11 June – 10 September 2022

Over the last decade, Northern Irish artist Colin Davidson has gained international renown for his large-scale portraits of actors, musicians, writers and politicians. While portraiture is the most visible manifestation of his practice, it is only one element of a multifaceted oeuvre, the result of an artist continually striving to challenge himself and explore new territory. This curiosity has produced nudes, still life, landscapes and recently explorations into three dimensions. In fact, until 2010, Davidson was best known for urban scenes, initially atmospheric views of Belfast from above and later, complex renderings of life in London and New York reflected in the glazed surfaces of office buildings.

Colin Davidson: Selected Paintings 1986 – 2022, which opens at the F.E. McWilliam Gallery this June, explores the relationships and connections between these two distinct but related elements of Davidson’s art. Co-curated by Riann Coulter and Kim Mawhinney, Senior Curator at National Museums NI, the exhibition provides a unique opportunity to appreciate the consistency and quality of Davidson’s practice through the decades.