Wicklow County Council and Creative Places Baltinglass, in collaboration with The Hub Collective, are delighted to present Baltinglass and Beyond — My Sense of Place, a new group exhibition opening at Baltinglass Library on Friday 4 September at 7pm.
Selected through an open call, the exhibition brings together the work of eleven visual artists from across West Wicklow, each offering a personal interpretation of place. Working across a wide range of media, the artists explore themes of landscape, community, memory, identity and local heritage, reflecting the rich cultural and natural character of the region.
The exhibiting artists are Dermot Burgess, Nicky Butler, Malú Colorin, Zelda Cunningham, Shane Guerrini, Jens Heller, Yvonne Higgins, Viktoriia Kogutenko, Siobhán Madden, Eoin O'Malley and Philip Reilly. The exhibition includes photography, alongside oil and acrylic painting, collage, pencil drawing, needle and felt work, cyanotype, and mixed-media textile pieces incorporating natural materials including beeswax, ink, wool and silk.
Highlights of the exhibition include Malú Colorin's sculptural textile work, created from branches gathered along the banks of the River Slaney and naturally dyed Irish-grown wool; Zelda Cunningham's painting and hand-stitched suspended textile forms, which explore environmental exposure and are deeply rooted in the local landscape; and Viktoriia Kogutenko's photography, inspired by her experience of building a new life in Ireland after settling in Baltinglass.
Together, the works reveal the many ways in which place shapes our experiences, identities and memories. Drawing inspiration from the landscapes, built heritage and folklore of West Wicklow, alongside deeply personal stories of belonging, the exhibition offers a rich and varied reflection on what it means to call a place home.
The exhibition is the first group exhibition to emerge from The Hub Collective's open call programme, which was established to support and showcase visual artists living and working in West Wicklow.
Commenting on the exhibition, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr. Dr. Caroline Winstanley said, "It is a pleasure to welcome the opening of Baltinglass and Beyond — My Sense of Place at Baltinglass Library. This exhibition is a wonderful celebration of the creativity, talent and diversity of artists living and working in West Wicklow. It is especially encouraging to see emerging artists exhibiting alongside more established practitioners, creating an exhibition that reflects the richness of our communities and the many ways we connect with the places we call home. I encourage everyone to visit the exhibition and support these talented local artists."
Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, Emer O’Gorman, added, “Creative Places Baltinglass demonstrates the value of investing in creativity at a local level. By supporting artists to develop and exhibit their work within their own communities, we strengthen cultural participation and create opportunities for people to connect through the arts. Wicklow County Council is proud to support this initiative, and I encourage everyone to visit the exhibition.”
Baltinglass and Beyond — My Sense of Place will be on display at Baltinglass Library from September to December 2026. Admission is free and the exhibition can be visited during library opening hours.
The Creative Places Network is part of the national Creative Places Programme, developed and funded by the Arts Council.
Further information is available at www.creativeplacesbaltinglass.ie