Kevin Lowery Gallery & Studio

The Kevin Lowery Gallery in Bundoran is excited to present Between Two Worlds, a solo exhibition by Sligo-based artist Emma Stroude. This exhibition is part of Féile na mBan Festival, a celebration of women’s achievements in arts, music, activism and more.

Between Two Worlds features a series of figurative paintings that explore themes of performance, identity, and resilience. Stroude’s work invites viewers to reflect on the experience of inhabiting the body, physically, emotionally, and mentally. The figures in her paintings often seem to be caught in moments of challenge or discomfort, yet they also show strength and the ability to endure.

The exhibition encourages us to think about how we cope with adversity and find resilience in tough situations. Stroude’s personal story is embedded in each piece, but the works also reach out to viewers, offering a space for empathy and shared human experience.

Performance plays a key role in the compositions, with each painting capturing a powerful moment of emotional expression. These works invite reflection on our own stories and how we navigate the complexities of life.

The gallery invites everyone to celebrate the launch of the exhibition, with an opening reception and talk from the artist on Sunday, the 2nd of February, at 5PM. The exhibition is open daily from 10AM to 5:30PM, from 30th January to 9th February 2025. All are welcome!

Artist Biography
Originally from England, Emma Stroude completed her studies in London at Chelsea College of Art and Design and The Slade School of Art. She moved to Ireland in 1996 and studied in NCAD before settling in Sligo where she plays an active role in the arts community.

Primarily a painter, Emma’s current practice is underpinned by a dedication to life-drawing which has a strong influence on her work. Drawing on themes of performance, embodiment and negative capability, she paints figures in motion and in unsustainable positions in search of a place to exist within the discomfort of their experience. Her interest in the body extends to work in portraiture. Emma was the winner of the Irish Arts Review & Ireland US Council award for portraiture at the RHA 2021 and the recipient of the inaugural In Plain Sight commission from King’s Inns and The Bar of Ireland 2022. Most recently she was invited by the OPW to create portraits of the first four female senators elected to The Seanad for The Houses of the Oireachtas. Previous works include subject matter stemming from Irish History, emotive landscapes and a series of paintings titled ‘Colour Run’ which engage with senses of curiosity and uncertainty.

The artist would like to thank The Arts Council, Dr. Tamsin Cavaliero, David Smith and the performers Angelique Ross, Michelle Thoburn and Emmen Jude Donnelly who all played key roles in the development of this body of work. 

 

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About the Gallery

Opened on May 3rd, 2024, the Kevin Lowery Gallery & Studio is the first of its kind in the region. This new contemporary art gallery located in the heart of Bundoran, is a vibrant addition to the town's cultural landscape. It celebrates Kevin’s lifelong passion for art and his deep connection to the coastal beauty of the Wild Atlantic.