Category: Exhibition

Exhibition: More Sneak Peeks from Water and Flow

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Close-up view of textured fabric featuring blue and white patterns with several circular holes.
Jacqueline Atkinson
A close-up of a felted green fish with decorative beads, surrounded by colourful felted stones and seaweed against a blue background.
Eglฤ— Silenaite-Enyed
Close-up of a textured fabric featuring a swirl pattern in cream and dark grey.
Yamila Fournier

Sneak Peeks

To whet your appetite for the artwork that will be shown, please enjoy a series of ‘sneak peeks’ of details of some of the work.

Jacqueline Atkinson:

The wet winter of 2025/2026 was the inspiration for Jacqueline’s interpretation of the theme ‘water and flow’ when the battering, pounding, and sudden downpours of rain often made craters in her land. Hence the Irish title ‘Batar Fearthainne’ which she thinks adequately captures the sentiment she was hoping to portray.

Eglฤ— Silenaite-Enyed:

ย The flow in my art symbolises not only the flow of water but also the flow of time. Little pebbles with ancient symbols are sunken below. The flow of water is hiding the secrets of the past. Those times are gone, the time flows…

Yamila Fournier:

After 16 years inland, I moved to coastal Dublin, where the smell of the sea and the pull of the tides reminded me of the rhythm that had been a part of me since the day I was born, since before I was born.

The shore is filled with exciting opposites: gritty sand and wave-smoothed rocks, welcoming water and unknowable depths, chaos of crashing waves reshaping the shore daily and the reliable regularity of the tides. In the face of the vastness of the water, I look to the tiniest bits, portable microscope in hand…

Feltmakers Ireland’s exhibition ‘Water and Flow’ will be available to view from Thursday, the 2nd, to Sunday, the 26th of April. The Centre is open every day, from 9:30 AM to 5 PM.

Our official launch is THIS Saturday at 3 PM. Knitwear designer Conor O’Brien will open our show.

Please note: We have learned that the gallery will be closed at 1: 30 PM on the afternoon of Monday, the 6th of April, due to an event being held at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre.

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us:ย If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions:ย For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Exhibition: Water and Flow – More Sneak Peeks

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Close-up of a textile featuring blue embroidery of birds, flowers, and a bridge, with a square patch illustrating white figures on a blue background.
Karen McSweeney
A vibrant depiction of a waterfall cascading over rocks, surrounded by lush greenery and colourful flowers.
Claire Merry
Close-up of a textured fabric featuring shades of blue and purple, with metallic threads interwoven, set against a gold patterned background.
Breda Fay

Sneak Peeks

To whet your appetite for the artwork that will be shown, please enjoy a series of ‘sneak peeks’ of details of some of the work.

Karen McSweeney:

As a nautical artist I was inspired to use pieces of sea pottery, which were washed up on the Burrow Beach Dublin. The design is a nod to the willow pattern on the pottery.

Claire Merry:

 Water falls are mesmerising and breathtaking. The falling water contrasts with the surrounding lush vegetation providing both a visual and aural experience, which brings solace to the mind and soul. 

My piece tries to capture the moment of walking into a glade and seeing the water fall for the first time.

Breda Fay:

This piece of work is based on the 1832 poem “The Lady of Shalott” by Alfred Tennyson, illustrating the “stream that runneth ever”. Situated on an island in the middle of the stream, was a tower where the Lady of Shallott lived. Cursed to never look outside except through a mirror she spent all her time happily weaving a “charmed web”. Then one day, in her mirror, she saw a handsome knight and decided she could no longer live that life of shadows. She ran to the window and watched the knight ride down to Camelot. Once she left her loom, “out flew the web and floated wild” and the lady died.

Feltmakers Ireland’s exhibition ‘Water and Flow’ will be available to view from Thursday, the 2nd, to Sunday, the 26th of April. The Centre is open every day, from 9:30 AM to 5 PM.

Our official launch is THIS Saturday at 3 PM. Knitwear designer Conor O’Brien will open our show.

Please note: We have learned that the gallery will be closed at 1: 30 PM on the afternoon of Monday, the 6th of April, due to an event being held at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre.

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Exhibition: THIS Saturday ‘Water and Flow’ Launches

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A close-up view of a textured fabric artwork featuring waves of colour, including greens, whites, and blues, with circular felted shapes resembling shells or flowers.
Tamzen Lundy
Close-up of several white felted wool rings arranged on a textured surface, with small brown beads in the background.
Sandra Reynolds
A close-up image of a colourful felted fish design, featuring vibrant hues of blue, orange, and yellow on a textured white background.
Corina Hogan

Feltmakers Ireland’s exhibition ‘Water and Flow’ will be available to view from Thursday, the 2nd, to Sunday, the 26th of April. The Centre is open every day, from 9:30 AM to 5 PM.

Our official launch is THIS Saturday at 3 PM. Knitwear designer Conor O’Brien will open our show.

Please note: We have learned that the gallery will be closed on the afternoon of Monday, the 6th of April, due to an event being held at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre.

Sneak Peeks

To whet your appetite for the stimulating artwork that will be shown, please enjoy a series of ‘sneak peeks’ of details of some of the work.

Tamzen Lundy:

Inspired by the meeting place of land and sea, The Convergence evokes the rhythmic flow of water against the shoreline โ€” a threshold where elements collide and merge. This liminal space, poised between solidity and movement, suggests a point of quiet transformation: a place where boundaries dissolve and something magical may occur.

Sandra Reynolds:

The theme of ‘Water and Flow’ really resonates with me. I’ve been lucky enough to always live near the sea and enjoy my daily beach walks there. My work for this particular piece with wool reflects the shapes and colours of marine life both above and below Water.

Corina Hogan:

My interpretation is based on the realisation that all Humans, Animal Kingdom and Plants require water to survive and flourish. A basic need for all and so important.

Their Instagram: @tamzenlundydesigns @sandysosew @corina.lewis.hogan

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us:ย If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions:ย For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

News: Guild Member Dr Niki Collier Solo Exhibition – National Museum of Ethnography, Bulgaria

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A woman in a grey dress and hat sits in front of a large decorative backdrop featuring colourful, oversized butterfly wings. Behind her, a performer with wings in pink and white poses gracefully.

Recently, the artwork of Feltmakers Ireland guild member Dr Niki Collier has been featured in a solo show, ‘Symbols of Mobility’ in Bulgaria. It has ten installations, including the following: The Phoenix, Children of Lir, The Black Swan, and the newest bird joining the flock- the Flamingo. This travelling exhibition was launched at the National Museum of Ethnography in Sofia on Brigid’s Day, on the 2nd of February, by the Irish ambassador in Bulgaria, Her Excellency Catherine Bannon.

The exhibition has been visited by a record-breaking number of visitors, and there has been coverage on all major television stations: BTV, Nova, BNT, along with many radio stations: Horizon, Focus, BTA, and others.

Dr Collier also held a seminar at Shumen University on Brigid, alongside an exhibition of photographs of her installations. In addition, she led a few workshops at the National School of Applied Art, at the museum, and had an installation at a yarn shop.

There is a video of the exhibition launch on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1163154259226409

More information about the exhibition can be found on the Museum’s website – https://www.bas.bg/?p=62183&lang=en

Here’s a link about the exhibition on the artist’s website – https://www.nikicollier.com/solo-exhibition-ethnography-museum-of-bulgaria/

Her Instagram: @nikicollierfelt

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For content-related questions, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Exhibition: Feltmakers Ireland Presents โ€˜Water and Flowโ€™ Exhibition โ€“ Phoenix Park Visitor Centre Gallery โ€“ Dublin

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
'Water and Flow' Feltmakers Ireland Group Exhibition poster, featuring felt artwork by Joanne Turner. Details about the exhibition location at Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, dates from 2nd to 26th April, and opening hours. Announcement of a launch event with knitwear designer Conor O'Brien on the 4th.

Feltmakers Ireland is delighted to presentย โ€˜Water and Flowโ€™, a vibrant group exhibition featuring the contemporary artwork of 68 members. This showcase explores the many interpretations of water through the rich and versatile medium of felt.

From gentle streams to powerful oceans, โ€˜Water and Flowโ€˜ explores the many moods of water: its energy and stillness, its capacity for renewal, and its connection to human emotion, from sorrow to joy.

Using fibres ranging from imported Merino wool to locally sourced Irish fleece, members have created a diverse body of work that highlights both traditional and contemporary felting practices. Featuring an array of textile techniques, including wet felting and needle felting, guild members have created three-dimensional sculptures, wall art, and wearable pieces, each offering a unique perspective on the theme, reflecting the creativity and individuality of the artists involved.

The Opening

The exhibition will be officially launched by knitwear designer Conor Oโ€™Brien on Saturday, 4 April at 3 PM.

Where and When

The exhibition is at theย Phoenix Park Visitor Centre Galleryย and runs from Thursday, the 2nd of April, to Sunday, the 26th of April. The hours are 9:30 AM to 5 PM, daily, with the exhibition closing on its final day at 3 PM.

The gallery is conveniently accessible byย Dublin Bus number 99ย and is located within the historic Phoenix Park. There is ample parking near the Centre.

For further details, including maps and directions to the park, visitย https://www.phoenixpark.ie/directions.

The artwork featured on the exhibition poster isย โ€˜Waterfallโ€™ย by Joanne Turner.

Her Instagram @olannoriginals

We warmly invite you to join us for the opening or visit throughout the month to experience this dynamic and engaging exhibition celebrating feltmaking in Ireland.

Online Catalogue

A link to Feltmakers Ireland’s online catalogue of ‘Water and Flow’

There is also a PDF version of the catalogue (if the above link is not working for you).

Reminder: Last Day to Apply to ‘Water and Flow’ – Before Midnight

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Promotional poster for Feltmakers Ireland's exhibition submission, featuring details about the event at Phoenix Park Visitors Centre in April 2026. The theme is 'Water & Flow' with a submission deadline tonight at midnight.

Today is theย last dayย to apply to Feltmakers Irelandโ€™s upcoming group exhibition,ย ‘Water and Flow’.

It might be a slightly cloudy or rainy day in Ireland โ€“ no surprise, there! However, if you have been waiting for ‘The Best Day’ to photograph your piece, do not worry: We do not need perfect photographs. Instead, we need your submissions. So, please, please apply.

If, in the event, the online form gives you trouble uploading your images (as it may get ‘overstuffed’), please email photos to committeefeltmakersireland@gmail.com

The deadline is Friday, the 20th of March, atย midnightย โ€“ today!

Hereโ€™s the link to where and how to apply: https://feltmakersireland.com/exhibition-application-2026-water-and-flow/

Naturally, we thank all of the members who have already applied! It’s going to be a fantastic show!

Our opening is Saturday, the 4th of April at 3 PM. Hope to see you there.


Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions:ย For content-related questions, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

News: European Wool Experience โ€“Less than 2 weeks away – Tralee

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Promotional poster for the European Wool Experience featuring various wool crafting activities, including handling wool, colourful yarn, and knitting.

Join us for the European Wool Experienceย โ€” a free public event celebrating wool, creativity
and craftsmanship onย Saturday, the 28th of March at the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, Co Kerry.

Feltmakers Ireland will be taking part in European Wool Experience 2026. If youโ€™ve been hoping to pick up a copy of our book Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking, we will have copies available on the day.

Our volunteers will also be demonstrating feltmaking techniques, and visitors will have the opportunity to join a hands-on wet felting activity using Irish-raised wool from ร‰riu and WoolStore Ireland.

The wool used for these activities has been partially funded by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland.

The European Wool Experience will be a unique day, where wool comes to life through hands-on demonstrations, exhibitions, research displays and interactive experiences from makers, artists, educators and innovators across Ireland and 10+ European countries.

Whether youโ€™re discovering wool for the first time, visiting with family and friends, or already passionate about fibre crafts, this is a wonderful opportunity to see traditional skills alongside contemporary practices โ€” and experience the incredible versatility of this natural material.

  • Meet makers
  • Watch live 35+ demonstrations
  • Explore exhibitions and displays
  • Try wool crafts like felting, weaving, spinning and much more in a welcoming, relaxed environment

Drop in anytime โ€” admission is completely free, and everyone is welcome!

WHEN: Saturday, 28 March 2026 | 10 AM โ€“ 5 PM

WHERE: Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, Co. Kerry, V92 DC83

Short Video

For more information: https://irishgrownwoolcouncil.com/free-fringe-ewd26-event-interactive-wool-demonstrations/ and https://ewe.network/ewd2026/

Groups of 10+ can book in advance viaย ewd@ewe.networkย (subject:ย Group Visit)

Note: The European Wool Day 2026 Conference, which runs parallel to this event, is a ticketed
event. Currently, the conference capacity has been reached, but one can apply to be on a ticket waiting listย here – https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/european-wool-day-2026-conference-ireland-tickets-1977521531133?aff=oddtdtcreator


Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For content-related questions, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Exhibition: BeCraft’s ‘Abattoir’ Group Exhibition – Dr Niki Collier – Belgium

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A poster featuring a grid of nine illustrated cows, with large yellow circles obscuring their faces, set against a mint green background. The text at the bottom reads 'ร€ la belle vue de l'abattoir' alongside details for the BeCraft Expo from 8th March to 24th May 2026.
Close-up of vibrant orange felt sculptures with various shapes and curls, set against a neutral background.

BeCraft presents a group exhibition, ‘A la belle vue de l’abattoir’, which marks 20 years of organisation.

Bringing together around fifty artists from twelve European countries, the exhibition explores the theme โ€œAbattoirsโ€ through contemporary applied arts and crafts practices. Through memory, poetry and critical perspectives, the works explore the history and contemporary meanings of these sites, now part of our heritage, and question our relationship to the living, to making, and to transformation.

BeCraft is a professional association that promotes applied arts in the Wallonia and Brussels regions. Ceramics, glass, jewellery, paper, textiles, and product design are among the creative fields in which the supported and promoted artists work.ย  Since its inception, the association has worked closely with the ECA โ€“ European Crafts Alliance (formerly WCC-Europe).

Feltmakers Ireland member Dr Niki Collier‘s piece, ‘The guts to be accountable’, is part of the exhibition.

Artist Statement from Dr Collier –

This is a three-part handmade felt sculpture emoted from the texture and form of the stomach, the guts, and the tongue The sculpture is informed by a cow’s digestive system which is a complicated multitude of organs. They can be a source of learning and growth; simultaneously as an organ and as a symptom of how we interact with food. The food industry today has developed such a disconnect between the food that we eat and its origin that we are conditioned to believe that only certain parts of the animal are nutritious or have a purpose. Rather than looking into changing ourselves: our relationship to food and what and how we eat, we demand the humane killing of farmed animals. The work is also a comment on greed and how greed dictates smokescreens such as โ€˜โ€™humane killing of animalsโ€™โ€™ rather than addressing our behaviour in how and what we eat; which would have an actual impact on the sustainability of our environment. The stomach is now discarded as rubbish by the contemporary food industry, while it used to be a source of healing, a treat reserved for special occasions, and a membrane used to create tools for music and craft. The sculptures aim to start a conversation about our eating habits โ€“ what we should not discard โ€“ and focus on our own accountability rather than on methods of slaughter.

Where: Anciens Abattoirs de Mons, Rue de la Trouille 17, 7000 Mons, Belgium

Runs until the 24th of May.

For more information, visit BeCraft’s website – https://www.becraft.org/event/a-la-belle-vue-de-l-abattoir-expo

Instagram: @becraftorg @nikicollierfelt

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Exhibition: Dressing Dublin – Made in Blackrock – Irish Textile History

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A black and white historical photograph of a smiling young woman working at a sewing machine in a factory setting, with the text 'Dressing Outline' and 'Made in Blackrock' overlayed.

The exhibition ‘Dressing Dublin: Made in Blackrock‘ explores the former local textile industry, the people who worked in it and how it was influenced by national and international economic forces. The project showcases the small area around Brookfield Terrace and Carysfort Avenue in Blackrock, County Dublin, which produced, until the 1980s, locally made textiles, hosiery, shirts, workwear, and much more. 

Where: Blackrock Library, Main St, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, A94 YF76

The exhibition runs through Monday, the 9th of March.

If you cannot make it to the exhibition, you can learn more through Dรบn Laoghaire-Rathdown County Councilโ€™s YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/@DLRofficial

There is a 30-minute film, an audio tour and an extended interview hosted by fashion historian, Laura Fitzachary.

The 22-minute film has interviews with former employees, Liam Dodd and Christine Fitzachary, which captures this history before this part of our local heritage disappears. Through these conversations, we can also review the current state of the clothing industry in Ireland today.

Watch the film here, on the DLRCC’s YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-AfWyqs_F8

There is an 18-minute audio guide of the exhibition – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUHd3TAgfYc&t=3s

A longer audio interview with Laura Fitzachary and former employee Christine Fitzachary discusses the local textile history – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ppls5FP9lc&t=1101s

For more information about the show, visit the library website – https://libraries.dlrcoco.ie/events-and-news/event-calendar/dressing-dublin-made-blackrock

Laura Fitzachary’s Instagram: @seekthehistoric

DLR Instagram: @dlrheritage


Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Exhibition: Wearable Art by Claire Garvey – Made in Wicklow Invited Guest 2026 – Powerscourt House

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Promotional poster for Claire Garvey's exhibition 'From Canvas to Cloth', showcasing 15 paintings and 15 wearable art sculptures. The event runs from 21 February to 1 March at Powerscourt House, Enniskerry, with free admission.
Display of artistic garments created by Claire Garvey, featuring mannequins dressed in vibrant, textured outfits against a rustic stone wall, with signage reading 'Claire Garvey Canvas to Cloth'.

As part of Made in Wicklow’s ‘For the Love of Creativity’ series,ย Claire Garveyย presents ‘From Canvas to Cloth’, an exhibition featuring 15 bespoke, hand-crafted, and hand-beaded pieces of wearable art. Each garment is inspired by one of Claireโ€™s ten favourite paintings, with influences ranging from the bold strokes of Van Gogh and Miro to the intricate worlds of Botticelli and HR Giger.

Claire Garvey is a bespoke designer with a couture shop in the heart of Temple Bar, on Cowโ€™s Lane, Dublin. She has designed for the Oscars, the Emmys, the X-Factor, and the Cannes Film Festival. She specialises in one-off outfits for musicians and celebrities and is a celebrated advocate for ‘slow fashion’ and sustainability, hand-making every piece in her workshop with a focus on recycled trims and exquisite craftsmanship.

When: The show runs through Sunday, 1st March, 10:30 AM โ€“ 4:30 PM. Free entry.

Where: The Garden Room, Powerscourt House, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow

For more information about the exhibition, visit the Made in Wicklow website – https://madeinwicklow.com/powerscourt-2026/

To see more of her work, visit her website – https://www.clairegarvey.com/

Her Instagram – @clairegarveydesigner_

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.