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Irish Independent

Limerick artist brings summer-themed work to Wicklow arts venue

Gillian was born in Limerick and studied painting at the Limerick School of Art and Design and then completed her MFA at the University of Ulster, Belfast. She was awarded the Countess Markievicz medal for painting by the United Arts Club Dublin during her student days. She is participating in this year 195th RHA annual. and has exhibited her work regularly at venues such as EVA, the Hunt Limerick, and Limerick Printmakers, and the Lab Foley Street Dublin. Gillian completed a large-scale solo exhibition at Limerick City Gallery and has also exhibited her paintings at the Spectrum Gallery London, The Phatory New York, and the Engine Gallery Toronto. She has been involved in many social practice and community projects over the years, including the Artist in Prison Scheme and Ballymun Regeneration. Vivid autobiographical memories and influences from film and early Kodachrome photography strongly inform the artist's work, which excavates strong photographic references through the use of painterly language. Her recent body of paintings explores nostalgic memories which are bittersweet and stem from the era of the pandemic, where 'the notion of leisure time and of being on holidays is elevated into a cloud of affectionate nostalgia through which the idealised memories of the past are viewed'. Kenny Shinnors generates her work through appropriating imagery from old photographs, and self- generated imagery which includes familiar scenes and landmarks. Her unique perspective includes strong pictorial compositions, juxtapositions of people and architecture and her distinctive strongly saturated palette, capturing light and shade. Like many Limerick people, Gillian was fortunate to spend every summer of her childhood in Kilkee, County Clare and she told 'Limerick Live' about her inspiration. 'These vivid autobiographical memories strongly inform my work,' she said, on the memories behind them. 'The notion of being on holidays is now elevated into a cloud of affectionate nostalgia through which the idealised environment of the seaside of the past is viewed. This is the sentiment I aim to explore in these paintings, by appropriating imagery from old photographs, and creating landscapes which include familiar scenes and landmarks.' The opening reception for Reminiscence takes place on Friday, July 11, 2025, from 7pm to 9pm. The exhibition closes on Sunday, July 20.