Biography
Emma Berkery is a Visual Artist originally from Limerick, living and working in Belfast since 2004. She holds a Masters in Fine Art from Ulster University and has exhibited throughout the country, in the UK and India in both solo and group shows. Her work is held in both public and private collections both within Ireland and the UK, the US, Germany, India and France.
Passionate about the arts, for the last 15 years Emma has been designing and delivering arts based projects, exhibitions and events with a commitment to furthering best practice in arts engagement. To date she has trained over 60 artists and many more teachers and educational professionals. She has undertaken residencies, projects and commissions both at home and abroad and been awarded Arts Council of Northern Ireland support several times.
Additionally, she works as a creative consultant supporting arts organisations and galleries develop their programmes. Currently she is Associate artist with Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich Irish Language arts centre, and holds a studio in their centre in Belfast. In this role she also sits as chair of their Visual Arts panel and supports the coordination of their exhibition programme.
Solo Exhibitions
2024 It Might Be Hope…Who Can Tell?, SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin
2022 Making Space to Soar, Gallery 2, Nicholas Gallery, Belfast
2021 Submerged in Echoes, Gerard Dillon Gallery, Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich, Belfast
2018 Reflections & Considerations, Riverside Gallery & Theatre, Ulster University, Coleraine
2016 These Boats Carry Hope, Duncairn Arts Centre, Belfast Children’s Festival, Belfast
2015 Curators Choice, Curated by Naomi O’Nolan, Hunt Museum, Limerick
2012 Accepting the Journey, Island Arts Centre, Lisburn
2010 Overflow from the Tower, Limerick County Council, Dooradoyle, Limerick
2010 Overflow from the Tower, Small works, Cockleshell Gallery, Wexford
2008 Altering Fluid Perceptions, Small Works. Think Creative Gallery, Limerick
2008 Altering Fluid Perceptions, The Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon, Co. Clare
2007 Landscape of Testimony, National Software Centre, Cork
2006 Goodbye to Summer, The Market Place Arts Centre, Armagh
2004 New Works, The Malt House, Galway
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023 New works, 4 person show curated by Martin Ferguson, Nicholas Gallery, Belfast
2023 Summer-Autumn Exhibition, Greenacres Gallery, Wexford
2023 Home, The Greendoor Gallery, Brussels
2023 MIWANZO, Ballaí Bana Gallery, Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich, Belfast
2022 Summer Exhibition, SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin
2022 Winter Exhibition, SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin
2021 Through the Looking Glass, Curated by Therry Rubin, Birr Vintage Arts Festival, Birr
2021 Postcards by Platform, Eastside Arts Festival, Belfast
2021 NUA, SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin
2019 Spring exhibition, Curated by Julie Barlow, The Greenacres Gallery, Wexford
2019 Summer Exhibition, Curated by Julie Barlow, The Greenacres Gallery, Wexford
2018 Summer Exhibition, Curated by Julie Barlow, The Greenacres Gallery, Wexford
2015 Festival Exhibition, The Greenacres Gallery, Wexford
2015 Summer Exhibition, The Greenacres Gallery, Wexford
2014 Spring/Summer, Curated by Paul McKenna, The McKenna Gallery, Omagh
2013 WET, Curated by Hive Emerging. Avenue Festival, Waterford
2013 Summer Exhibition, The Courtyard Gallery, Bangor
2013 emerge+see, Curated by Dr. Rory Harron, The London Street Gallery, Derry
2013 Festival Exhibition, Curated by Eddie Mallon, Newcastle Arts Festival, Co. Down
Residencies, Projects & Awards
2023 Arts Council of Northern Ireland, SIAP, General Arts Award
2023 Associate Artist with Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich, Belfast (Ongoing since 2019)
2023 Aesthetica Art Prize Awards, Long List
2021 Arts Council of Northern Emergency Resilience Fund
2020 Freelands Foundation Emergency Fund
2019 Arts Council of Northern Ireland, SIAP, General Arts Award
2014 Associate Artist with Young at Art, Belfast
2013 Arts Council of Northern Ireland, SIAP, General Arts Award
2013 Artist in Residence in Schools Derry Londonderry City of Culture 2013
2012 Collaborate, 4 artists in conversation, Artspace, Oxford Island Nature Reserve
2012 Artist in Residence, Craigavon Borough Council, Oxford Island Nature Reserve
2010 Limerick County Council, Exhibition Assistance Award
2009 Artist in Residence, VOID Gallery, In You We Trust, Curfew Tower, Cushendall, NI
2008 Limerick City Council, Exhibition Assistance Award
2007 Artist in Residence, Global Arts Village, New Delhi India. Residency
2006 Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Travel Award
Commissions & Collections
2022 Cultúrlann Mc Adam Ó Fiaich Collection
2016 Private collector, California. 1 Painting commissioned
2010 Limerick County Council, Permanent Collection
2009 Private Collector, Limerick. 3 Paintings commissioned
2007 Uni-Trunk Ireland Ltd, Lisburn, NI. 12 paintings commissioned
2007 National Software Centre collection, Mahon, Co. Cork
2006 Eastway Technical Consultants, Limerick. 10 paintings commissioned
2006 Various private collections in Ireland, England, India and Germany
Selected Professional Arts Work & Consultancy (2017-2023)
2023 Visual Arts Panel (Chair) – Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich – (ongoing since 2019)
2023 Guest Speaker on Creative Evaluation – Queens University, Belfast (annually since 2019)
2023 Mentor to visual arts assistant – Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich (ongoing since 2022)
2023 Mentoring & training teachers in child led, visual art practice – Young at Art (ongoing since 2021)
2022 Creative Evaluator – Young at Art
2019 Creative Event Staff Training – Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich
2019 Mentor to Education & Engagement Officer – Young at Art
2019 Development of teacher resources for refugee awareness programme – Young at Art
2019 Development of All About Art CPD training course in child led, process based visual arts engagement – Young at Art (ongoing delivery on demand)
2018 Creative Event Staff Training – Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich
2018 Exhibition Co-ordinator – Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich (2018-2022)
2018 Education & Engagement Officer – Young at Art (2012-2018)
2017 Bright Young Things – Early years drama recruitment consultant
2017 Facilitate NI – Delivery of Early Years drama facilitator training