Artist’s Biography

 

Helen Merrigan Colfer is a native of county Wexford.

Art qualifications obtained at W.I.T. & the Crawford College of Art & Design, Cork:

• NCEA Certificate in foundation art 1983

• BA Hons fine art1986 • Hons H.dip in principles of art & design education 1987

Work History:

2019:  Royal Ulster Academy Education & Events Programme:   Artist Talk & Powerpoint presentation featuring Sculptor Helen Merrigan Colfer, 10th Dec 2019

2019:   Acquired Artist Exemption Status.

1990-2004: Head of art department & art teacher at Athlone Community College, Athlone,   Co. Westmeath, Ireland

1992-2002: State Examiner for Dept. Ed & Sciences 1987-1990: C.B.S New Ross, Co. Wexford art teacher

 

Awards:

1 The Elizabeth Morrow Award 2019 for original & innovative art, USWA

2 Acquired Artist Exemption status 2019

3 The Mill Cove Gallery Award for a sculpture of distinction, Sculpture in Context 2018

4 The Cosgrove Award, Cairde Visual 2017

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

​

 

 

 

 

 

​

 

 

​

Current & upcoming Exhibition History:

2020:

1 Royal Ulster Academy 139th Annual Exhibition Oct-Jan 2021

2 Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre, Limavady Londonderry. 2020

3 The Velvet Easel ‘Where the Shadows come to Play’ group ex. Nov-March 2020

4 USWA 2020 ‘Down to Earth’ On Line Spring Exhibition April 2020

5 BBC The Culture Cafe with Marie-Louise Muir Artists in Lockdown, Mental Health  Awareness Week. (Artists: Noelle Mc Alinden, Rosie McGurran & Helen Merrigan  Colfer.) May 2020

6 Object Trouve Gallery, Oklahoma, Zoom Presentation of my work (2014-2020) May  2020

 

2019:

1 GOMA 4th Annual Members Exhibition Dec - Jan 2020, Waterford

2 Royal Ulster Academy 138th Annual Exhibition Oct-Jan 2020 (Two pieces selected)

3 The Velvet Easel Gallery, Of Night & Light Exhibition, Nov-March 2020 Edinburgh

4 Greenacres Gallery Festival Opera Selected Exhibition, Wexford Oct-Nov  2019

5 F Live, Fermanagh Live Arts Festival, Solo exhibition, The Devenish Gallery  Enniskillen Sept-Dec 2019

6 Sculpture in Context, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin Sept-Oct 2019

7 USWA 62nd Annual Exhibition, Crumlin Gaol Aug 2019 (Winner of Elizabeth  Morrow Award for original & innovative work)

8 ‘Legacy’ Boyle Arts Festival, curated by Paul McKenna July 2019

9 Cairde Visual, the Model, Sligo July-Aug 2019

10 Culloden Estate, Northern Ireland Art in The Garden, Gormleys Fine Art June 2019
11 Russborough House, Co Wicklow Art in The Garden, Gormleys Fine Art May 2019

 

2018:

1 Royal Ulster Academy 137th Annual Exhibition Oct-Jan 2018 (Two pieces selected, both bought by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland 2 Sculpture in Context, Juried exhibition Botanical Gardens Dublin, Sept-Oct  2018, (Winner of The Mill Cove Gallery Award 2018 for a sculpture of  distinction)

3 Greenacres Gallery Festival Opera Selected Exhibition, Wexford Oct-Nov  2018

4 Greenacres Gallery Wexford, Invited sculpture artist showing with Pamela &  Patrick Palmer Exhibition Aug-Sept 2018

5 Kilkenny Gallery, Kilkenny Arts Festival, Johns Bridge 2018

6 Greenacres Gallery Wexford Open Submission Jan-Feb 2018

7 The Velvet Easel Gallery, Edinburgh, ‘Spring They Name is Colour’ March  2018

8 Kilkenny Gallery, Christmas Exhibition, Johns Bridge. 7th-23rd Dec 2-18

 

2017:

1 Royal Ulster Academy 136th Annual Exhibition Oct-Jan 2017 (Three pieces selected)

2 Sculpture in Context, Juried exhibition Botanical Gardens Dublin, Sept-Oct  2017

3 Cairde Visual, Sligo Open Submission jury selected. July-Aug 2017   (Winner of the Cosgrove Award 2017)

4 The Affordable Art Fair, Hampstead, London, The Doorway Gallery 2017

5 The Edinburgh Art Fair 2017, The Doorway Gallery 2017

6 House Event, RDS rep The Doorway Gallery, May 2017

7 Wexford Art Expo 2017, Kilkenny Gallery, The Bullring Mall Wexford

8 The Blackbird Gallery, Kilkenny, Elementi Exhibition - Invited Artist Aug 2017

 

2016:

1 Sculpture in Context, Juried exhibition Botanical Gardens Dublin, Sept-Oct  2016

2 Cairde Visual, Sligo Open Submission jury selected. July-Aug 2016

3 Greenacres Gallery Wexford Open Submission Feb-March 2016

 

2015:

1 Sculpture in Context, Juried exhibition Botanical Gardens Dublin, Sept-Oct  2015

2 Cairde Visual, Sligo Open Submission jury selected. July-Aug 2015

3 Greenacres Gallery Festival Opera Exhibition, Wexford Oct-Nov 2015

4 Greenacres Gallery Wexford Open Submission Aug-Sept 2015

5 Greenacres Gallery Wexford Open Submission Feb-March 2015

2014:

1 Cairde Visual, Sligo, Hyde Bridge Gallery Open submission 2014

2 Greenacres Gallery Festival Opera Exhibition, Wexford 2014

3 Greenacres Gallery Christmas Exhibition, Wexford 2014

4 Wexford Arts Centre, Lions Club Open Exhibition 2014 (Merit award for sculpture)

 

2009:

1 Greeacres Gallery Open Submission, Wexford 2009

​

2008:

1 Wexford Vocational School, Wexford Festival Opera Open Submission 2008

​

2007:

1 Art Ireland RDS 2007

​

2006:

1 Dunbrody Festival, New Ross, Wexford 2006  

​

Collections:

Arts Council of Northern Ireland

Private collections in Holland, New Orleans America, France, Great Britain & Rep of Ireland

Memberships:

1. Professional member VAI

2. Elected Associate Member of Ulster Society of Women Artists 2019

3. Professional artist, Artlinks

4. Member of a-n The Artists Company

​

Contact Details:

Email: helen@helenmerrigancolfer.com

Face book: https://www.facebook.com/helenmerrigancolferartist/

Website: https://www.helenmerrigancolfer.com 

Instagram: Helen Merrigan Colfer