Ann Kavanagh

Biography

Ann Kavanagh an Irish visual artist originally from Kilkenny, now takes most of her inspiration from her local surroundings of Dublin. Ann works across the mediums of printmaking and photography is a studio member of Black Church Print Studios. She has participated in residencies at other print studios namely Crown Point Press, San Francisco, Druckstella, Berlin
and has exhibited nationally and internationally.

​Education:
Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology
Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Fine Art 2.1 – Photography and Fine Art Printmaking – 1999-2004

Achievements:
2019 selected to be a participant on the skills transfer program at the National Print Museum
2016 and 2018 selected to participate at MI-LAB, Lake Kawaguchico, Japan. MI-LAB (Mokuhanga Innovation Lab) is an artist-in-residence program designed to provide extensive knowledge of Mokuhanga (water-based woodblock printmaking). With this training Ann facilitates Mokuhanga print workshops at the National Print Museum. Participant at the bi-annual Mokuhanga conference in Hawaii 2017 and in Nara Japan 2021.
2004 Prize winner at Impressions Print open submission, Galway Arts Centre
2003 Received a graduate award to Graphic Print Studios, Dublin and presently her prints can be seen at the Graphic Print Gallery, 8a Cope St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2.

Statement

Aesthetics of structural manmade forms fuse and clash with the natural in my artworks with a type of fragmented sensitivity, delicateness and refinement, the work presents a serene and solemn calm that comes out of and abstracts into a carefully constructed chaos. This orderly chaos that I look for in my work reflects on the relationship between two seemingly opposing concepts, the wild and the urban landscape. I abstract certain elements to create a visual interpretation of my urban (Dublin) and rural surroundings which is predominantly Wicklow and Kerry, the mountains and along its coastlines. The printing process for me is a response to the materials themselves, erasing lines to create lines on woodblocks, mark making on copper and aluminium plates plus the accidental scratches that I choose to leave, editing until a composition begins to emerge. Each print is developed in conjunction with one another. I work instinctively and as my surroundings become more intense, my emotive response to them is created by layers and depth of colour, contrast, and textures. Ann has recently begun to expand her practice into book binding my prints into artist books.