Lot 34: Derval Freeman - Universe in Bloom I

This painting is part of a series I created last year, inspired by the breath taking beauty of nature and the renowned Kilmacurragh Botanical Gardens in Co. Wicklow. Colour and composition were the primary focuses, as with the majority of my work. Through an intuitive and spontaneous process, I worked from memory to capture the intricate essence of the gardens’ flora and fauna. By allowing my imagination to wander and respond freely to the natural surroundings, I aimed to create a unique visual dialogue that reflects the core of my experience. By exploring the gardens in my imagination, I sought to pay homage to the natural wonders that inspired me, while also sharing my personal interpretation of the world through colour, texture, and light. Ultimately, my work reflects a deep connection with the natural world and the beauty that resides within it.

71 x 61cm

Acrylic on Canvas

Artist Bio I am an Irish artist and have been based in County Wicklow for over the past ten years. I grew up in Nenagh, County Tipperary, and later moved to County Clare with my family several years before graduating from Limerick School of Art and Design in 1996. Despite life's personal demands in my formative years as an artist, I have managed to find time to develop my painting practice wherever I possibly could over the years. In recent years, I have been able to paint on a more full-time basis, and my daily studio life revolves around exploration of colour in painting. I have great passion for nature, both while hiking in the nearby mountains and forests, and also for the nature beyond our planet in stargazing, drawing inspiration from the wonders of the cosmos. I draw connections between both to my own sense of being and existence, particularly in relation to my experiences being adopted and the emotions, questions, and fears that can arise from it. I am intrigued by the vastness of the universe and our place as a human race within it. I have had the opportunity to showcase my work in numerous group exhibitions, including notable invitations to participate in several group exhibitions with the Hamilton Gallery in Sligo. Some of my exhibitions include "Eva Gore Booth," exhibited at the Museum of Literature (MoLI) in Dublin, as well as "Among School Children," "Meditations of Time in Civil War," "St. Brigid’s Well," and the Impressions group show. My work has been featured in these exhibitions touring China in association with The Hamilton Gallery and the Irish ambassador in China, reaching cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. I have had work selected for recent exhibitions curated by ArtNet Dun Laoghaire invited artist curators, including Carmel Benson “Transience", Eamon Colman "Conversation with Trees" and Cian McLaughlin "Interdependence". Crosscurrents collaborative exhibition at the Lexlcon, Dun Laoghaire curated by Claire Halpin and ‘Europe in the Heart of Ireland’ curated by Martina Hamilton for the first exhibition at the new Europa Gallery on Chatham St. Dublin. I was awarded several artist residencies at the Cill Rialaig Artist Residency in County Kerry. I was also pre-selected for the John Richardson French Residency in 2023 and 2024, where I was highly commended for my work among the selected artists in 2024. Additionally, I have held several solo exhibitions over the years, including my last 2023 titled "Wanderings" at The Seamus Ennis Arts Centre's Easter Snow Gallery, opened by renowned Áosdana member Eamon Colman.