Breda is originally from Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan. She studied Textile Design at The National College of Art and Design and Landscape Design at Dun Laoghaire Senior College. She works in a range of media including wire, willow, feathers and fabric. She also creates limited edition giclee prints of her artwork. She has exhibited widely in Ireland and the U.K.
Read an interview with this artist here:
How did you begin your career as an artist?
I have always loved creating images, sculptures and pieces with a strong tactile element. I graduated with an Hons Degree in Textile Design from the National College of Art and Design, Dublin in 1997. In the same year my sculpture work won the Taylor Art Award. Since then I have worked mainly to commission and for exhibitions. I have exhibited in group exhibitions in Ireland, Scotland and London, with two solo exhibitions in Ireland.
Can you talk a little about the profession of being an artist as you have experienced it?
At the beginning I tried to concentrate mainly on work for exhibitions and submissions, but it can be soul- destroying at times. Generating income from artistic work is a huge challenge and I have felt a lot of relief when I haven’t needed to look to my artwork for income. I have developed many other creative skills over the years that have brought me more reliable income while, allowing me the opportunity to create, design and facilitate new creative work. My artistic side has always influenced how I view things, challenges and opportunities. I think patience is a key requirement when working as an artist because it can take longer than expected to develop a presence and a strong sense of your own worth as an artist. I believe that if you enjoy what you do and work hard at it, that it does pay off, when the time is right. For anyone who is thinking of making art as a profession, I would say trust your instincts, be true to yourself and hold on to what you feel passionate about.
How important is Gallery representation for you?
My sculpture work is often created in outdoor settings with natural materials. There is a totally different energy and presence about the work when it is placed in a conventional gallery interior, the natural materials within the sculptures stimulate all the senses, it seems to catch the viewer off guard. When the irregular natural materials of the sculptures are put against the clean, crisp lines of the gallery if somehow lifts it to a new level and gives it more strength than when it sits in its natural surroundings outside.
How you do keep your profile visible?
I exhibit my work quite regularly in exhibitions and I submit my work for proposals and competitions. I have a website www.bredamarron.com and I put regular updates on www.facebook.com/bredamarroncreations. I have also had my work featured in interiors magazines and newspapers and I have also created a collection of limited edition prints of my drawings and sketches which are available on www.bredamarron.com and in selected outlets which all help in keeping my artistic profile current.
At what point in your career did you make the work in this collection and what was the impetus for making the piece?
The sculpture is called Inner Sanctum and I made it in 1999. It was part of my solo exhibition Entwined in The Basement Gallery, Dundalk. The piece was created at a time when my mam was in remission from breast cancer. It looked at the idea of reflecting inwards, finding a place of serenity and safety from the severity of the treatment and the emotional shock that the diagnoses had brought with it. The piece was created with copper wire on the outside and lined inside with white feathers. It explored the contrast between the strong outer protective layer and the delicate, vulnerable space within, reflecting the emotions of the experience.
Do you still like the piece? How do you feel about it now?
I still really love the piece, it brings memories flooding back whenever I see or hold it. It is a great compliment that the piece has been so well looked after and cared for. My mam has since passed away and it feels like a piece of her spirit and strength is embodied in the Louth Art Collection which is such an honour for me and my connection to my mother, who I loved so deeply.
How has your career progressed?
I am currently creating sculptures which are more figurative, larger and brighter. The sculptures are created on a commission basis and are created for private collections, communities and public commissions.
The profile of my work has recently risen and I have had it exhibited in the Bord Bia Salmon of Knowledge Showgarden at Bloom in the Phoenix Park and also in the Sculpture in Context Exhibition in the Botanic Gardens, where it won a 2012 Sculpture in Context Award for large outdoor sculpture. My work has also been exhibited at The National Craft Exhibition in the RDS recently.
Find out more about this artist here: www.bredamarron.com
Watch a short film of Breda talking about her practice here:
