Mary-Ruth Walsh
Walsh’s work critically examines architecture and its materials in the Anthropocene, exploring their impact on our lives and movements.
Born in Dublin, Mary-Ruth Walsh graduated from the National College of Art and Design in Dublin and received her Masters in Fine Art at Goldsmiths College London.
In the last 18 years she has had 16 solo exhibitions and numerous significant awards, including the Arts Council of Ireland, Create Ireland and Cultural Ireland Awards. Her publications include three books including two monographs.One of her monographs, SKIN DEEP, was awarded with a „100 Design Archive“ prize.
She is a member of Visual Artists Ireland (VAI), Create Ireland and the Irish Architecture Foundation, as well as being co-founder of the artist collective Drawing de-Centered
Since 2000, Mary-Ruth has undertaken a ‘Guerrilla Architecture’ practice, working in public spaces, outside of the ‘White Cube’.
Her public work extends beyond the gallery space and is both permanent and temporary.
Her theatrical presentations in drawing, painting, and film contrast with and parallel her architectural inspirations, using seductive surfaces that lead the viewer in.
My practice explores buildings from frenetic shopping centers to the desolate loneliness of empty spaces and how architecture affects the way we move and behave in the urban environment. I also see architecture as part of our identity. These explorations are realised in drawing, painting, film-making, sculpture-installation, critical writing and occasionally performance.
Mary-Ruth Walsh
Solo Shows
- 2021 – Rathfarnham Castle, OPW, Dublin, Strangely Familiar Shades of Gray. This explored materials, the body and Eileen Gray
- 2020 – Wexford Arts Centre, Highlanes Drogheda and Limerick City Gallery, SKIN DEEP. Arts Council of Ireland Touring Award, with an award winning hand-made book
- 2019 – Gröelle Pass Projects, Germany, The Transparent Stillness of the Turning World
- 2019 – Sirius Art Centre, Cobh, Ireland commissioned as part of the One, Here, Now project. Curator Miranda Driscoll, special funding award
- 2013 – Irish Museum of Modern Art, Eileen Gray Retrospective, artist’s film by Mary-Ruth Walsh
- 2012 – Cross Gallery, Dublin, Nonuments to a New International
- 2011 – Dublin City Centre, Real E-State a performance-installation of an estate of houses erected without planning permission. Supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Irish Museum of Modern Art
- 2011 – Galway Arts Centre, Ireland, Strangely Familiar Shades of Gray, sculptures, drawings and film response to architect Eileen Gray
- 2011 – Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin, Drawing Out Gray Areas in the Process Room
- 2010 – Garter Lane Gallery, Waterford, Nonuments to the Third International
- 2007 – Wexford Arts Centre, Still Life, commissioned exhibition and panel discussion with chair Gemma Tipton. Circa 122 magazine review
- 2006 – Sligo Art Gallery, Ireland, White Goods 3.
- 2004 – Goethe Institute, Dublin, White Goods 1 with a catalogue
Selected Group Exhibitions
Selected Group Shows
- 2023 RHA, invited to exhibit for AnnualExhibition
Drawing Box International, Onkaf Art Foundation, Mumbai, IN - Leitrim Sculpture Centre, Atmospheres: 1, Drawing deCentered with a Zine
- 2022 BEYOND DRAWING:: 2, curated by Arno Kramer, Uilleann West Cork Arts Centre Re:Group is an independent, artist-led collaboration, Uilleann West Cork Arts Centre
- 2020 Drawing de-Centred Courthouse Gallery Ennistymon Co Clare Ireland
- 2020 (Un)Known Borders with Anne Lildholdt Jensen, Denmark
- Solas Nua Washington DC Film Screening during lockdown
- BEYOND DRAWING: 1 Ballina Arts Centre, Mayo Ireland. Curator Arno Kramer
- 2019 HERE / there: Wexford meets Wuppertal, a group exhibition of artists working in Ireland and Germany
- 2018 Solas Nua / Dupont Underground Exhibition, Washington DC
- 2018 Drawing de-Centred, Eustace Street Studios, Dublin
- Listening to Aspen, Sirius Arts Centre, curated by Eamonn Maxwell
- Still Life in the Contemporary World, Wexford Arts Centre see Aidan Dunne review Yes to the 8th poster, part of online campaign for Repeal The 8th.
- 2017 Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland, Culture Night.
- 2017 Butler Gallery National Drawing Day – Workshop with Drawing Machine
- 2017 About the House Blue Egg Gallery, Wexford
- 2016 Open Studio-A Conversation on Drawing Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) Dublin. Curated 45 Irish and international artist.
- 2016 Annual Exhibition Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) Dublin
- 2015 Aabenraa Artweek exhibition, Denmark
- 2014 Phoenix Rising: Art and Civic Imagination Dublin City Gallery-The Hugh Lane, curated by Logan Sisley
- 2013 bagga khans A4art Gallery, Thomas Street, Dublin
- 2013 Beyond the Frontier artist’s films screened in 19-20th century shop windows
- 2013 Newtownbarry House, curator Anya von Gosseln, After & Since. An international tribute exhibition to Eileen Gray.
- Port of Waterford Building, Making a Mark, artist’s notebook exhibition.
- 2012 SCOPE, Miami, Cross Gallery
- 2011 Centre for the Urban Built Environment, Manchester, CUBEOpen
- 2011 Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda Arts Festival and Wexford Arts Centre – a UK-Irish touring exhibition, Utopia Ltd.
- Cross Gallery, Dublin, Pencil to the Plough
- 2010 Centre for the Urban Built Environment, Manchester, CUBEOpen 2010
- Parlour No.19, Siena, Italy, PAR AVION
