Joanne Risley
Born in and now based in Cheshire, I have had my work commissioned for public sites throughout Britain and Ireland. Clients include Aldi, Tesco, various councils and several healthcare trusts. I regularly exhibit my work at outdoor sculpture events and have pieces in The Old Courthouse Gallery, Ambleside, The Broomhill Art Hotel, Muddiford, Devon, The Sculpture Park, Churt and The Kildare Gallery, Maynooth. I also have work in private collections throughout Britain and Ireland, including The Irish Times and The Department of Finance for Northern Ireland.
I also teach Art and Design to Primary school children and deliver workshops.
My work follows a tradition of sculptural object making where craftsmanship and hand finishing remain important. I use a range of media including bronze, Cor-ten steel, oak and mosaic. A range of techniques are also employed in the production of my art. I am interested in the repeated forms found within diverse natural elements, linking the microscopic with the monumental. I often use mathematics in the construction and planning of my forms. I do not seek to copy nature, rather to absorb, filter and create something new from the things I have seen and the experiences I have had.
I like to be playful in my work and am drawn to quirkiness. I find the processes of conception, growth, flux and evolution endlessly fascinating and seek to capture something of the wonder and power of nature in my artwork. My intention is to create objects which are enigmatic and invite inquiry.
PUBLIC SCULPTURE COMMISSIONS
2016 "Replaying The Brookfield Hydro" ;3.5 m x 1.75 m metal and mosaic screen commissioned by Aldi for their new store in Poynton.
2008 “Genesis” ; Three 1m diameter bronze sculptures commissioned by Belfast HSC Trust for The Knockbreda Community Treatment and Care Centre, Belfast.
2003 “Sunsplash” ; 2m x 1.5m fibreglass & mosaic sculpture commissioned by The Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester.
2002 “Shell Forms” ; Two bronze sculptures commissioned by The Mater Hospital, Belfast.
2001 “Douglas Dragonflies” ; 3m high bronze sculpture commissioned by DaY Valley Action for The River Douglas, Wigan.
2001 “The Home of Rugby League” ; 3m high bronze sculpture commissioned by Tesco for Former site of Central Park, Wigan.
2000 “Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal Sculptures” ; Three bronze sculptures commissioned By Newport Borough Council for 3 sites on the canal in and around Newport, South Wales.
1999 “Night & Day” ; two 2m bronze sculptures, commissioned by Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
1998 “Kinetic Blooms” ; bronze, kinetic water feature commissioned by Armagh City & District Council for ‘The Garden of The Senses’, The Bishop’s Palace, Armagh.
1996 "Crocus" ; bronze water feature, Whiteabbey Hospital, Co. Antrim.
SELECTED PRIVATE COMMISSIONS
2003 “Fish Mosaic” ; 800mm diameter pebble mosaic for private garden in Cheshire.
2000 “Cascade” ; 1m high bronze water feature for private garden, Merseyside.
2000 “Leafy fountain” ; 1m wide bronze water feature for private garden, Cheshire.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
1993 “The Fruiting Womb” ; The Berkeley Gallery, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny.
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2018 Burghley Sculpture Exhibition
2018 Doddington Hall Sculpture Exhibition
2018 Mount Pleasant Gardens Sculpture Trail
2018 Charingworth Court Sculpture Exhibition
2017 Manchester Academy of Fine Art, Portico Gallery Manchester
2017 Marks Hall Sculpture Exhibition
2017 "Bloom" Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland
2017 RHS Tatton Flower Show
2017 Mount Pleasant Garden Sculpture Trail.
2017 "Charingworth Court Sculpture Exhibition" The Winds of Change Gallery, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire.
2017 "Making A Mark" Foxlowe Art Centre, Leek.
2017 "Interesting But Weird At The Same Time" Touring exhibition throughout Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic of selected works from The Department of Finance and The Office of Public Works.
2016 "To Please A Few" Cupola Gallery, Sheffield
2016 Broomhill Sculpture Park, Muddiford, North Devon.
2016 "In All Its Glory" Chester Cathedral.
2016 "Sculpture Trail" Mount Pleasant Gardens, Kelsall, Cheshire.
2016 "Saltaire Sculpture Trail" Garden sculpture trail in Saltaire
2016 RHS Tatton Flower Show Sculpture Garden, Tatton Park, Cheshire.
2016 Smallwood garden and sculpture trail.
2015 "Lustre" Charles Roe House, Macclesfield, Cheshire.
2014 "Art in The Park" ; Oulton Park, Cheshire.
2014 "20 x 20" ; VAC Gallery, Northwich, Cheshire
2006 “Cheshire Artists”; Old School Gallery, Alvanley, Frodsham.
2003 “Christmas Show” ; Wendy J Levy Contemporary Art, Manchester.
2002 “From Past To Present”; Art from Public Buildings 1815-2001, Dublin.
2002,1996, 1995 “Christmas Show”; The Cavehill Gallery, Belfast.
2002 “New Work”; Two-person show with Barry Callaghan, The Pinfold Gallery, Windermere.
2000 Art Park; Saumarez Manor, Geurnsey.
1999 "Three Sculptors" Cavehill Gallery, Belfast.
1997 "Wales Drawing Bienniale '97", Aberystwyth Arts Centre & other venues throughout Wales.
1995 "Early Summer Show", The Cavehill Gallery, Belfast.
1994 "Small Works", 3 person show, Brownes Gallery, Dublin.
1992 "Decade Show", The Francis Dixon Gallery, Dundee.
1991"Doors of The Earth", Women's open air exhibition, Brighton.
1990 "Whitechapel Open Studios Exhibition", Angel Studios, Islington, London.
1989 "Belfast 9", Slaughterhouse Gallery, London and The Irish Life Mall, Dublin.
1989 MA Show, Orpheus Building, University of Ulster, Belfast.
1988 WASPS Travelling Show, various venues throughout Scotland.
1987 "Sterling Biennial Exhibition" Sterling.
1987 Royal Scottish Academy.
PRIZES
Chalmers-Jervise Prize
GRANTS
1994 Irish Arts Council Equipment Grant.
1993 Northern Ireland Arts Council, six weeks residency at The Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Co. Monaghan.
GALLERIES
The Old Courthouse Gallery, Ambleside, Cumbria.
Broomhill Sculpture Park and Gallery, Muddiford, Devon
The Sculpture Park, Churt, Surrey
The Kildare Gallery, Maynooth, Ireland
COLLECTIONS
The Department of Finance for Northern Ireland
The Irish News
Various private collections throughout Europe
EDUCATION
1989 MA Fine Art, University of Ulster, Belfast.
1987 BA hons Fine Art (Sculpture), Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee.
1986 Art Foundation Course, London Rd Art School, Mid-Cheshire College, Northwich.
BIO
1965 Born Knutsford, Cheshire.
2017 Elected member of Manchester Academy of Fine Art.