Guild member Dr Niki Collier has a solo exhibition at Portumna Castle. It combines felt art, installation, dance, and participatory engagements, which are captured through film and photography.
The exhibition ‘Symbols of Mobility’ uses bird lore in legends, proverbs, and intangible cultural traditions to explore the hard truths about ourselves and others.
The audience will get the chance to see seven stories: The Phoenix, The Children of Lir, The Black Swan, The Cutest Chick, The Stork, The Legend of Óengus and Caer, and The Blue Bird of Happiness. These pieces are embodied in large-scale sculptures informed by wings and small sculptures informed by shapes of sorrow and joy. The work also includes installations, photography, and film.
Parts of the work have been produced with the generous support of the Office of Public Works, Arts Council of Ireland, Creative Ireland, and the Dublin Arts Office.
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The Fine Art of Textile in the Coach House Gallery, Dublin Castle, is an international exhibition of contemporary textiles that cross artistic genres—painting, sculpture, drawing, and sewing. It is curated by Irish artist Nuala Goodman, with the assistance of Italian journalist Maria Luisa Caffarelli.
The exhibition’s core is the Milan-based collective ‘Fringe’, founded in 2022 by four female artists from different countries. Fringe is a vibrant, creative force exploring the expressive potential of textiles. There is Sanchita Ajjampur, who re-interprets the ancient skills of raffia weave and embroidery creating sustainable handcrafted works; Lisa Farmer, whose art pieces lie somewhere in between basketry and tapestry; Nuala Goodman whose ‘Wild Tapestries’ uses preloved and precious textiles to create works of art, and Colomba Leddi whose synthetic, linear forms create spatial redefinition.
Curated by Irish artist Nuala Goodman, ‘The Wild Donegal Tweed Project’ is a collaboration between five Donegal tweed companies and art and design students from NABA(Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti) in Rome.
Through the Irish Times fashion journalist Deirdre McQuillan, the five Donegal companies (McNutt of Donegal, Magee 1866, Molloy & Sons, Triona Design and Studio Donegal) have donated their fabrics to the NABA textile workshop. The woven, natural and sustainable quality of Donegal tweed appealed to the students as an alternative to cheap synthetic materials. Tweed cushions (45 x 45 cm) were chosen as the ideal form for re-imagining techniques such as smocking, embroidery, felting, patchwork, layering and more.
– Text from the OPW.
Where: The Coach House Gallery, Dublin Castle, near the Chester Beatty. When: 6th of June, 2025 – 24th of August, 2025 Opening hours: 10 AM – 5 PM Free admission
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.
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Sculpture in Context will celebrate 40 Years of showcasing sculpture in Ireland this September. The DEADLINE for applying is next Friday!
Exhibition entries are open to artists working in three dimensions in any medium. They encourage the broadest possible definition of sculptural practice, encompassing object-making, installation, performance, video, and emerging hybrid forms, both permanent and ephemeral.
Note: In the past, several feltmakers have submitted and been accepted to exhibit in Sculpture in Context shows. Search ‘Sculpture in Context’ on our Feltmakers Ireland website to read about some of these members’ pieces.
The exhibition attracts numerous visitors and offers significant visibility and potential for selling work.
The large sculptures will be showcased in the garden’s natural setting, creating a dialogue between art and nature. The indoor gallery will showcase a curated selection of works, offering an intimate and thoughtfully arranged viewing experience.
Entrance is by open submission, and selection is made by an independent panel of judges.
DEADLINE: 11:59 PM, on Friday the 25th April, 2025.
How to Submit
Up to three submissions per artist are allowed, with an entry fee of € 16 for each submission.
The online submission process requires support documentation.Please note that if you close the portal mid-entry, your application will not be saved.
Sculpture in Context will celebrate 40 Years of showcasing sculpture in Ireland this September.
Exhibition entries are open to artists working in three dimensions in any medium. They encourage the broadest possible definition of sculptural practice, including object making, installation, performance, video, and emerging hybrid forms, both permanent and ephemeral.
Note: In the past, several feltmakers have submitted and been accepted to exhibit in Sculpture in Context shows. Search ‘Sculpture in Context’ on our Feltmakers Ireland website to read about some of these members’ pieces.
The exhibition attracts many visitors and offers significant visibility and potential to sell work.
The large sculptures will be showcased in the garden’s natural setting, creating a dialogue between art and nature. The indoor gallery will display a selection of works, providing an intimate and curated viewing experience.
Entrance is by open submission, and selection is made by an independent panel of judges.
DEADLINE: 11:59 PM, on Friday the 25th April, 2025.
How to Submit
Up to 3 submissions per artist are allowed, with an entry fee of 16 euros for each submission.
The online submission process requires support documentation.Please note that if you close the portal mid-entry, your application will not be saved.
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.
Catalogue for Feltmakers Ireland’s exhibition, ‘Symbols of Ireland’.
On Sunday, the 2nd of March, First Lady Sabina Higgins launched Feltmakers Ireland’s exhibition, ‘Symbols of Ireland’. To accompany the show, we created an online catalogue to share with the Office of the President, the 47 artists involved, our members, and the public.
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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.
First Lady Sabina Higgins looking at Claire Merry’s ‘Hares in the Meadow’
Dublin, Ireland: Over 400 attendees gathered at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre for the opening of ‘Symbols of Ireland’, a stunning exhibition from Feltmakers Ireland.
First Lady Sabina Higgins, wife of President Michael D Higgins, officially opened the event with an inspiring address, marking a celebration of Irish craftsmanship and sustainability.
The exhibition featured the work of 47 guild members, showcasing many pieces crafted from Irish-raised wool fibre.
Mrs Higgins expressed her awe in her speech, saying, “I’m overwhelmed. I really haven’t seen a felt exhibition before… I have seen individual pieces in craft shops, but I haven’t ever seen anything like THIS! The innovation of the felt, how it is made from the start, is incredible.”
She went on to recommend transferring the exhibition to the National Gallery of Ireland, underscoring its cultural importance.
As Patron of the Wool in Schools Program, Mrs Higgins highlighted wool’s role as a sustainable material, noting its durability and self-cleaning properties. She also connected the exhibition’s themes to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, calling them “the 10 Commandments of our times.” To learn more about the Goals, visit here – https://sdgs.un.org/goals
‘Symbols of Ireland’ was open to the public at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre until the 30th of March, 2025. Visiting hours were 10 AM to 4 PM, Wednesday through Sunday, with free admission.
The Exhibition
Entering the Exhibition
Sabina Higgins and Loli Cox viewing Amanda Robinson Kelly’s artwork
Loli and our chairperson, Deirdre Carroll
The Committee. Left to right, Juliane Gorman, Deirdre Carroll, First Lady Sabina Higgins, Suzanne, Phelan, Lorna Cady (in front row), Annika Berglund in back row, Loli Cox, Adrienne Dempsey, and Elizabeth Redding. (Sam Fagan missing from photo)
Mrs Higgins talking with Lorna McCormack, head of Wool in Schools. Arwork by Heather Byrne
Mrs Higgins and Loli viewing Annika Berglund and Sandra Chase’s artwork
If you are unable to come to Dublin, we have an online version of the exhibition via our catalogue – Catalogue- Symbols of Ireland
The Poster
The exhibition ran from Wednesday, the 5th of March, to Sunday, the 30th of March 30th, 2025, at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre Gallery. Please note: the Centre is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The artwork featured on the exhibition poster is ‘Brigid’s Legacy’ by Jane Fox.
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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.
The Poster for Feltmakers Ireland’s group exhibition in March.
Feltmakers Ireland is delighted to present ‘Symbols of Ireland’, a group exhibition celebrating the country’s rich cultural heritage through the art of felt. Sabina Higgins will officially launch* the exhibition on Sunday, the 2nd of March, at 3 PM.
This showcase explores Ireland’s iconic imagery and deep-rooted traditions through the versatile medium of wool—ranging from imported Merino fibre to locally raised Irish wool. Featuring an array of techniques, including wet felting and needle felting, members of Feltmakers Ireland have created striking three-dimensional sculptures, wall art, and wearable pieces, each offering a unique interpretation of Irish symbolism.
The exhibition runs from Wednesday, the 5th of March, to Sunday, the 30th of March 30th, 2025, at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre Gallery. Please note: the Centre is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. (This may change if there is an increase in staffing. We will know more by the middle of the month).
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.
Dr Niki Collier, a visual artist and long lover of creating with wool, was commissioned by The Office of Public Works (OPW) to produce an installation and video about the legend of Oengus and Caer for the Winter Solstice at Newgrange. The work is part of the ongoing explorations of Symbols of Mobility and the performers wore unique nuno felted wings that Dr. Collier developed, informed by the legend of Oengus and Caer.
The Legend of Oengus and Caer
“The great love story of Oengus Óg and Caer is associated with Newgrange, known as The Dream of Oengus.
Oengus begins to dream of a woman he has never met, and his sleeping moments are spent yearning for Caer, who takes the form of a swan. He goes in search of her for a year and, upon finding her, decides to become a swan in order to be with her. The lovers fly off together towards Brú na Bóinne, the home of Oengus Óg ancestral”.
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.
The subject of two textile exhibitions is scheduled to be the topic of an upcoming ARENA program. The collaborative exhibition ‘ROOTS’ by the artists’ group Element15 & poet Jane Clarke, and The Textile Journey Collective’s ‘Beyond Chaos‘ exhibition are scheduled to be on RTE1’s radio program, ARENA, this coming Wednesday, December 4th.
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.
Two textile organisations, Textile Journey and Element15 Textile Artists, will exhibit at the Coach House Gallery near the Chester Beatty Museum in Dublin.
Textile Journey is an all-Ireland group that unites practitioners at all stages of their careers and with various access needs. Their exhibition, ‘Beyond Chaos,’ is a collection of works highlighting their members’ collaborative spirit. The show includes contributions from collaborations, including an Australian group, Textile Art Community Art Space, based in Melbourne, which celebrates the artistry and craftsmanship of textile work and strengthens the cultural ties between Ireland and Australia. Jane Fox, a member of the Feltmakers Ireland guild, is also a member of this group.
Element15 is a collective based in Co. Kildare. Individual artists develop their own practice in tandem with each other, distinct but connected. Element15’s exhibition, ‘Roots‘, is inspired by the work of Co Wicklow-based poet Jane Clarke. Elaine Peden, a member of the Feltmakers Ireland guild, is also a member of this group.
When: 26th September 2024 until 19th January 2025.
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.
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