Alison Kay

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Biography

Working with clay has been the central force for  Alison Kay over the past 35 years of her career. Having studied at Dun Laoghaire College of Art and Design, Dublin from 1971-1974, she subsequently taught at the renamed Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art and Design and Technology from 1990-2000 and now works from her studio in Shankill, Co. Dublin.

Her current sculptural work is coil and slab built using white clay, then gradually pared back and attentively worked to achieve a sense of volume and tautness. Layers of coloured Terra Sigillata (a fine liquid clay that resembles a glaze) are applied and then buffed to a shine. After the firing process, patterns are applied to the surface and then the piece is smoke fired. Through this process, the aim is to create elegant forms that are contemporary while still showing references to the past.

Alison Kay’s work is in several public collections including the National Museum of Ireland, The Office of Public Works, Ireland, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland – Foreign Embassy’s Collection and the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council’s collection.  She has also exhibited at the Irish Pavilion, Shanghai in 2011 and at Ceramics Art London in 2013.

Solo Exhibitions
2009 The Mill Cove Gallery, Cork, Ireland

Selected Group Exhibitions
2023 Winter Exhibition, SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin
2023 Decennium, 10th Anniversary Exhibition, SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin
2023 Conect, Artnetdlr group show, Walters, Dun Laoghaire
2023 Royal Hibernian Academy, 193rd Annual Exhibition, Dublin
2023 Clay Works, The Printworks, Dublin Castle, Dublin
2023 Wexford Festival Art Exhibition, Green Acres, Wexford
2023 Selected members exhibition, Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin
2023 Royal Ulster Academy, 142nd Annual Exhibition, Belfast
2022 Winter Exhibition, SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin
2022 Royal Hibernian Academy 192nd Annual Exhibition, Dublin
2022 COLLECT, Sommerset House, London
2022 Made in Ireland, Farmleigh Gallery, Dublin
2022 Royal Hibernian Academy, 192nd Annual Exhibition, Dublin
2022 Clay Works, Dublin Castle, Dublin
2022 Conjuring Form, DCCI Critical Selection, National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny
2022 Made in Ireland, F E McWilliam Gallery, Banbridge, Co. Down
2022 Land/Marks, Ceramics Ireland Exhibition, Agrilla, Italy
2022 Making Time, Alison Kay and Frances Lambe at the Blue Egg Gallery, Wexford
2021 Winter Show, SO Fine Art Editions, Powerscourt Town House, Dublin
2021 Royal Hibernian Academy 191st Annual Exhibition, Dublin
2021 Conjuring Form, DCCI’s Critical selection, Doneraile House, Cork
2021 Made in Ireland, National Design and Craft Gallery, Kilkenny
2021  Portfolio-Critical Selection, Doneraile House, Cork
2020 Winter Show, SO Fine Art Editions, Powerscourt Town House, Dublin
2020  Unfolding, Lexicon Gallery, Dun Laoghaire
2020  Land/Marks, Ceramic Ireland juried Triennial Exhibition, Farmleigh, Dublin and Faenza, Italy
2019 Somewhere In Between, SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin
2019 Hinterland Collaborative Exhibition, Eblana House, Dun Laoghaire, Co.Dublin
2019 The Royal Hibernian Academy 189th Annual Exhibition, Dublin
2018 The Royal Hibernian Academy 188th Annual Exhibition, Dublin
2017 VASE: Function Reviewed, Farmleigh, Phoenix Park, Dublin
2017 The Royal Hibernian Academy, 187th Annual Exhibition, Dublin (invited)
2017 Touchstone, Farmleigh, Phoenix Park, Dublin
2017 Crossroads, J.Cacciola Gallery, Bernardsville, New Jersey, USA.
2017 The 136th Royal Ulster Academy Exhibition, Belfast
2016 The Royal Hibernian Academy, 186th Annual Exhibition, Dublin
2016 VASE: Function Reviewed, National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny
2016 The 135th Royal Ulster Academy, Annual Exhibition, Belfast
2015 Vue at the RHA, Represented by SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin
2015 Portfolio @ Solomon, Solomon Gallery, Dublin
2015 Centred, Wandesford Quay, Cork
2015 The Royal Hibernian Academy, 185th Annual Exhibition, Dublin
2015 Create 2015, Brown Thomas, Dublin
2015 Christmas group show, The Graphic Gallery, Dublin
2014 The Royal Hibernian Academy, 184th Annual Exhibition, Dublin
2014 Eigse, Visual Art Centre, Carlow
2014 Centred, Farmleigh, Dublin
2014 Vue, Portfolio at the RHA, Dublin
2013 Open Submission, The Concourse, Dun Laoghaire
2013 Ceramic Art London, Royal College of Art, London
2013 The Royal Hibernian Academy, 183rd Annual Exhibition, Dublin
2013 Bravura, the Blue Egg Gallery, Wexford
2013 Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
2013 
Irish Craft Portfolio, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin

Collections
Consulate General of Ireland, Shanghai, China
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council
Office of Public Works – Private Collections
National Museum of Ireland

Awards
2008 Winner of Hallward Ceramic Sculpture Award
2010 Crafts Council of Ireland’s Excelence in Making award in association with the Mill Cove Gallery
2012 Winner of the Ceramics Ireland, Peter Brennan Pioneering Award
2016 Winner of 135th Royal Ulster Academy perpetual silver medal prize. Sponsored by Tom Caldwell Installations.