Maeve Gallagher is a ceramic artist based along the ‘Wild Atlantic Way’ in rural Galway.

She obtained her Honours Degree in Fine Art and a Masters in Creative Practice – Ceramics both in Galway Mayo Institute Technology (GMIT).

Pieces:

Her work includes Bread of Life, Maps, Feathers, Hurleys, Bowls, Giant sized Pencils, Nails, Knitting Needles, to name a few.

Her ‘Bread of Life’ pieces formed part of her Hon Degree exhibition and were subsequently purchased by GMIT.

The framed ceramic maps have made their way to every corner of the world, and have been presented as gifts to the likes of former Senator for the Diaspora Billy Lawless. Galway Co. Co. regularly purchases maps of Galway for presentation.

Workshops:

Maeve has ran workshops in Claregalway District & Day Centre (CDDC) where the service users created ceramic pieces representing a memory from their past. This inspired great confidence with the service users showing many stories surrounding the memory behind their pieces.

Maeve has been involved with ‘Creative Engagement’ in Colaiste Bhaile Chlár (Claregalway Secondary School) where she works alongside the art teacher and students. As part of her first engagement, they created a permanent display of ceramic birds– Saoirse (Freedom). These are ceramic birds (50 approx.) which are hung in the foyer of the school in the shape of a large bird.

Her second Creative Engagement are ceramic hands which hold different objects representing different parts of the school culture, such as slíothar – hurling, surface/tablet – IT etc.

The third Creative Engagement is ceramic hands, spelling out the word ‘Resilience’ these were made to represent the sign language which is used in the school.

Maeve was involved in the ‘The Great Read’, run by Galway Co. Co. She worked with students from St. Vincent’s National School, in Coolarne. This project was based on the first Galway Co. Co. Meeting held in 1918. Here every child made a miniature suitcase symbolising emigration. Maeve was also commissioned to make miniature suitcases where she used decals with copies of the original minutes and photo from that meeting in 1918.

Maeve also facilitates with different groups, with people with different abilities, and is passionate about the health and wellbeing benefits of art, particularly dementia sufferers and those in care settings. This helps in all sorts of ways through dexterity, storytelling, creating, engaging in groups, and confidence.