Recap: Opening of ‘Water and Flow’ Exhibition – Phoenix Park Visitor Centre

A man with glasses and a mustache presenting at a wooden podium in front of blue artworks on a stone wall.
Conor O’Brien launched our exhibition

Feltmakers Irelandโ€™s ‘Water and Flow’ exhibition was officially launched on Saturday, 4th April at 3 PM in the beautiful gallery of the OPWโ€™s Phoenix Park Visitor Centre. The event was opened by knitwear designer Conor Oโ€™Brien, who shared insights into his creative journey, from studying at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) to discovering Aran knitting through a college assignment, with guidance from his grandmother. He also spoke about his strong support for using Irish-raised wool in his work, highlighting the importance of local materials and heritage in contemporary design. Learn more about Conor from his website- https://conorobrienstudio.com/

The exhibition features 67 striking pieces of felted artwork, showcasing the breadth and creativity of contemporary feltmaking. The opening was very well attended, with approximately 140 people present to celebrate the occasion. Since the launch, several works have been purchased by visitors.

Water and Flow‘ will continue to run until Sunday, 26th April, offering further opportunities to experience this vibrant and engaging exhibition.

Some Photos of the Launch

Photos courtesy of Tom Macagno, Loli Cox, and members’ contributions.

The Gallery

Artists with their Artwork

Last year, in the blog post about our ‘Common Threads’ exhibition at the National Design and Craft Gallery in Kilkenny, we included a section featuring members alongside their pieces. As this is an engaging feature, we hope to get a photo of each member in the show.

If we overlooked you at the opening, or you have yet to visit, can you please take a photo of yourself next to your piece and email it to the following address: feltmakerIE@gmail.com

Online Catalogue

Here’s a link to Feltmakers Irelandโ€™s online catalogue of โ€˜Water and Flowโ€™

There is also a PDF version of the catalogue.

Appreciation

Thank you to everyone who helped make this exhibition such a success.

Many thanks to Conor Oโ€™Brien for launching the exhibition with his interesting talk, to our members for contributing their fantastic artwork, and to Annika Berglund and Fiona Leech for displaying everything so beautifully. Additionally, we would like to thank Loli Cox for introducing our guest speaker. Weโ€™re also very grateful to the committee members for organising and setting up the lovely refreshments. Finally, we want to thank the OPW Phoenix Park Visitor Centre for again inviting us to use their stunning gallery for our annual exhibition.

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 the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Exhibition: More Sneak Peeks from Water and Flow

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

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

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.

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

'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).