Kildare artist to have work featured at major arts festival in Dublin next month

Kildare artist Karen Hickey will have some of her finest work on display at Ireland’s premier art fair Art Source at the RDS from November 9-11.

The Celbridge native has had her work featured at Electric Picnic and the Google offices, and next month she will be showcasing her art at the big event in the Dublin venue.

Karen started using colour in her work three years ago and finds that her ‘funky’ colourful imagery of people seems to be increasingly popular with younger generations of art-lovers.

She has been drawing since she was a child but it’s only a few years ago that she swopped the charcoal and pencil for colour and she hasn’t looked back since.

“All of a sudden, everything just exploded for me both in terms of my painting and my success,” she said.

“I like to work with many different media including markers, chalk, oil pastels, watercolours, acrylics and most recently, spray paint.

“My personal approach is driven by a mixture of instinct and a subject matter that I find interesting, which so far is people, their expressions, mood and movement.

“My aim is always to create pieces that are alive, colourful, fun, expressive and tell a story.”

Last year, she exhibited six large artworks at the Electric Picnic Festival and a selection of her work was commissioned for the new Google offices in Dublin.

She was also selected as one of 50 artists for the Waterford Walls Festival last August.

“I’m not sure what exactly it is about my work but it seems to be a hit with all age groups, but especially those in their 20s and 30s,” she said.

Irish art lovers have the chance to get their hands on 100 pieces of original artwork for €100 – as well as unique works by Andy Warhol – at the RDS

Over 15,000 people are expected to view exhibits from artists across all genres at the biggest art event of the year which features over 175 contemporary artists and galleries over two floors showcasing painting, sculpture, photography, illustration, prints and ceramic art.

The show will feature a decade of live music display from renowned music photographer, Dubliner Ruth Medjber, who has just finished Arcade Fire’s European Tour and has been signed up to shoot Glastonbury for the BBC.

There is a huge emphasis on visitor involvement at Art Source, and this year the show features a number of amazing attractions for children over two floors – including a Superhero Transformation Station.

Art Source takes place at the RDS, Dublin, from November 9-11, admission is €10 adults, €8 OAPs. Children under 16 free only if accompanied by a parent or guardian.