Born in Dublin, she graduated from National College of Art and Design in 1982 with a First Class Honours Degree in Fine Art and Art History.
The inspiration for Ger O’ Reilly’s work comes through the simple act of going for walks with friends in woodlands, both near and far from her Dublin home.
Her keen observations are sometimes of the more incidental things one comes across while walking. The flow of water running off in a roadside ditch, to dark crevices in rock contrasting with the bright sunlight, the texture and hue of grasses growing around a broken down fence and how these features create their own miniature landscape within the whole.
Vertical tree trunks, both narrow and broad, etched with dappled bark or moss, floating branches and angular leaves cut through, bisecting and dissecting the aerial space above and under foot rutted pathways may lead to the dark, hidden secluded enclave or out onto a light filled vista.
She tries to convey the sentiments and atmosphere of ancient woodlands and groves. Fascinated by these places and nature’s durable imprint, she wishes the viewer to experience the intimacy of “being there” and conveys this through an accomplished facility in the use of real detail in her work.
She has exhibited over the years in many group shows such as the RHA, RUA. Her most recent solo exhibition “Under the Cover of Trees“ was in Dublin in 2012. Her work was selected for “Elements” a collaborative exhibition between the OPW and the DFP, Northern Ireland and displayed at venues in Belfast, Larne, Dublin and Wexford. Her work is held in both public and private collections.
Education
1977 – 1982 National College of Art and Design, Dublin
1981 First Class Honours Diploma in Fine Art and Art History
1982 First Class Honours Degree in Fine Art and Art History
Exhibitions
2015 “Finders Keepers” – Lexicon Municipal Gallery, Dunlaoghaire
2015 “Eigse” – George Bernard Shaw Theatre, Carlow
2015 After the Rain – Solo Show – The Doorway Gallery
2014 Group Shows The DoorwayGallery
“Drawings” NAS Project Space
Small Paintings, Culture Night - NAS
2013 Clifden Arts Festival “Two Worlds” Accessible Art Gallery, Co. Galway
Aughrim Festival “Craic in the Granite” Group Show, Co. Wicklow
“Fenit Within Without” Group Show, Fenit, Co. Kerry
Listowel Writers Week Festival “Two Worlds” Seanachaí Centre, Kerry
The Doorway Gallery – London Art Fair (March)
2012 Christmas Show – The Doorway Gallery, Dublin.
Elements – A collaborative touring exhibition between the OPW, and the Department of Finance and Personnel Northern Ireland. Venues – Belfast, Dublin, Larne and Enniscorthy Castle, Wexford.
Source – Artfair – RDS Dublin
“Closer to Home” NAS Project Space
The Interval Gallery, “For the First Time”
LINK Culturefest, Smithfield, Dublin.
The Doorway Gallery – London Art Fair
Under the Cover of Trees – Solo Show – The Doorway Gallery
2011 The Doorway Gallery – Christmas Show (Sth Frederick St)
The Doorway Gallery – London Art Fair
“Miscellany” NAS (Culture Night) (Group Show)
The Doorway Gallery – Summer Show (Sth Frederick St)
2011 RHA Annual Exhibition – Gallagher Gallery
2010 20 X 20 NAS (Christmas) (Group Show)
The Square Show NAS (Culture Night) (Group Show)
The Bad Art Gallery “Christmas Show” (Group Show)
The Bad Art Gallery “Summer Show” (Group Show)
The Bad Art Gallery “Unselected” (Group Show)
Haiti Auction ( Fundraiser )
2009 Royal Ulster Academy (Annual Exhibition)
2004 “Voices” – (Group Show – Brendan Kennelly Festival, Kerry)
2004 “To the Lighthouse” (Solo – Listowel Writers Week, Kerry)
2003 “Home is where the Art is” (Two Person Show, Fenit Co. Kerry)
1993 “X Marks” (NAS - Group Show RHA Gallery, Ely Place)
1991 “Gateway to Art” - (Group Show – Aer Rianta Festival)
1990 “Portfolio” (Group Show – NAS – Irish Life Centre)
1988 -1989 “An Urban Angle” (Group Show NAS – RHK, Monaghan, Waterford)
1987 “A Place of Work” (NAS Touring Show – RHK, Monaghan, Belfast, Wexford)
1986 “Decade Show NCAD” (Group Show – Guinness Hop Store)
1986 Two Person Show – Grafton Gallery
1984 EVA Limerick
1984 Festival of Young Artist – Mansion House
1984 “May to May” NAS
1982 “Exposure” Ilac Centre
1982 Degree Show – NCAD
1981 Irish Exhibition of Living Art – Douglas Hyde
1981 Diploma Show – NCAD
1979 Cross Section Exhibition – Alliance Francais
Collections
OPW
Private
Dimpco – (Glen Dimplex)
Hotel Conrad (Hilton) Earlsford Terrace
Mater Hospital – Eccles Street
Founder Member of New Art Studio Ltd.,
2/3 Mary’s Abbey , Dublin 7.
NAS is a Co-operative Studio sponsored by the Arts Council
2011 “The Interval Gallery” Virtual Gallery/Portfolio website
