Biography
Alan was born in 1991, in Co.Laois, and began working with wood from an early age. His work to date straddles the boundaries of contemporary craft, sculpture and architecture and has been exhibited both nationally and internationally.
Alan’s approach is tied closely to his intimate understanding of material and a desire to work directly with the chosen material for any given design. The intention is to make appropriate and meaningful decisions based on this more sympathetic understanding of material, and the means by which it may be manipulated.
Alan graduated with a Masters in architecture from University College Dublin in September 2015 and currently works from his studio in County Laois, imagining and creating one of a kind and speculative pieces for both public and private clients.
Selected Exhibitions
2023 Decennium, 10th Anniversary Exhibition, SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin
2017 House Event, RDS Dublin
2017 Artist in Craft, Cill Rialaig Arts Centre Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry
2017 Body and Soul, Ballinlough Castle, Westmeath
2016 Dog Days, Dunmaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise
2016 Institute of Designers in Ireland, Designs Awards Exhibition, Fumbally Exchange, Dublin
2016 RDS Craft Awards Exhibition, RDS Concert Hall, Dublin
2016 RDS Craft Awards Exhibition, National Museum of Ireland, Country Life, Turlough Park, Co. Mayo
2016 Sculpture in Context, National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9
2016 Glastonbury, Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, Somerset, UK
2016 Focus on Wood, Artists in Craft, Cill Rialaig Arts Centre, Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry
2016 House, Royal Dublin Society, Ballsbridge, Dublin
2015 The Art of the Woodturner, Cill Rialaig Arts Centre Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry
2015 Exhibition Build, Nine Lives, Architecture exhibition curated by Emmett Scanlon, National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny
2015 UCD Architecture, End of year show, Richview, University College Dublin
2015 Body and Soul, Music and Arts Festival, Ballinlough Castle, Co. Westmeath
2015 Glastonbury, Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, Somerset, UK
2015 Electric Picnic Music and Arts festival, Stradbally, Co. Laois
2014 Making is Thinking, An exhibition of work as part of the Masters design studio @ University College Dublin School of Architecture
2014 Weathering, Collaborative Work realising designs by Tierney Haines Architects, UCCA, Beijing, China— at UCCA Ullens Center for Contemporary Art. 8-14 December and Tent London (London Design Festival) 18th – 21st September 2014, Tent London, Old Truman Brewery, London
2014 Electric Picnic Music and Arts festivals Stradbally, Co. Laois
2014 Young @ SO Fine Art Editions, An exhibition showcasing emerging talent in printmaking, photography, and applied arts. May 8th – June 14th, 10 South Anne Street, Dublin
2014 Exploring Synergies, An exhibition of Architecture and Public Art Research inspired by the cultural and natural landscape of the Stockholm Archipelago: Konstfack Telefonplan Tunnelbana, Stockholm
2013 RDS Travelling Exhibition – RDS Concert Hall, Ballsbridge, Dublin / Mid-Antrim Museum, The Braid, Ballymena, Co. Antrim / Strule Arts Centre, Omagh, Co. Tyrone
2013 Improvisations On the Theme of an Irish Wall, An Installation by twenty Leading International and Irish Wood Artists: June – September Link Gallery VISUAL centre for contemporary art, Carlow
2013 Electric Picnic Music and Arts festivals Stradbally, Co. Laois
2013 The Drawing Room, A delightful mix of art works from new and established artists: No. 12 Henrietta Street, Dublin 1
2013 Sculpture In Context, National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9
2012 RDS National Craft Competition, RDS, Dublin
2012 Electric Picnic music and arts festivals Stradbally, Co. Laois
2012 Dunamaise Arts Centre, (Christmas group show) Portlaoise, Co. Laois
Awards
2008 Winner of ‘The Woodworker’ magazine young woodworker of the year
2009 1st Prize U19 and Presidents Prize, Irish Woodturners’ Guild National Seminar
2010 1st Prize, 2nd Prize and Presidents Prize, Irish Woodturners’ Guild National Seminar
2013 Selected to Participate in DREAM Master Class in Wood, Ruzomberok, Slovakia
2013 Irish American Cultural Institute, Muriel Gahan Scholarship
2014 1st Prize Newpark Comprehensive Percent for Art invited competition
2016 Winner of RDS Craft Award; Emerging Maker (Woodturning)
2016 Cill Rialaig Project, Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry – Artists Residency
2016 Overall Winner and 1st Prize in Artistic Catagory, Irish Woodturners’ Guild National Seminar
2016 Commended, Institute of Designers in Ireland, Design Awards (Structures and Spaces) for Quadrangle at Newpark School
2016 Winner, Irelands Best Young Entrepreneur (Co. Laois) Best Start-Up Business and Best Young Entrepreneur