Helen G Blake is a painter whose practice focuses on colour; engaging with rhythm and formalism, chance and deliberation. Using a working method where process and contemplation are both allowed guide the evolution of the work, she constructs overtly hand-made paintings which record and examine colour conversations within accumulating pattern structures, embracing accidents, flaws and discrepancies within their rhythms.
Blake grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and graduated with an honours degree in Visual Art from Aberystwyth University, Wales. She lives and works in County Wicklow, Ireland.
Solo shows include: "Recent Works', The Molesworth Gallery, Dublin (upcoming July 2021); ‘Choir’, Limerick Museum (2019); 'Recent Works', The Molesworth Gallery, Dublin (2019); 'New Paintings', Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast (2018); 'Recent Works', The Molesworth Gallery, Dublin (2017); Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, Co Wicklow (2016); 'New Paintings', Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast (2015); FUTURES 14, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin (2014); ‘Accession’, Iontas Arts Centre, Castleblaney, Co Monaghan (2015); ‘Self-assembly’, Market Place Arts Centre, Armagh (2012).
Group shows include Art Beijing 2021 (with the Embassy of Ireland); Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition, London, UK (2019, 2018, 2016); FUTURES Anthology 2011-2014, RHA, Dublin; Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, RHA, Dublin (2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2009); Beep Biennial Painting Prize, Swansea, Wales; Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition, Belfast, N. Ireland; China Academy of Art CAA Museum, Hangzhou, China; Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts Museum, Chongqing, China; Suzhou Art Museum, China; Shenyang Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, China; Hangzhou Public Library, China; Consulate of Ireland, Shanghai, China; VUE National Contemporary Art Fair, RHA, Dublin (with The Molesworth Gallery); Three Works, Scarborough, UK; Candida Stevens Gallery, Chichester, UK; Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast, N. Ireland; The Molesworth Gallery, Dublin; Lavit Gallery, Cork; Alan Kluckow Fine Art, Berkshire, UK; Claremorris Open Exhibition, Claremorris, Co Mayo; ART WORKS, Eigse, Carlow Arts Festival (2016, 2012, 2009, 2008); Oireachtas Art Exhibition, Dun Laoghaire; 90th Anniversary Exhibition, Aberystwyth University, Wales; RUA RED, South Dublin Arts Centre (2018, 2016, 2009); Cairde Visual, Sligo (2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014); Periphery Space, Gorey, Co Wexford; Thames-Side Studios Gallery, London, UK. Blake was an invited artist at Boyle Arts Festival, Boyle, Co Roscommon (2018, 2014), and Dunlavin Festival of Arts (2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015).
In 2016 Blake received an Artist Support Award from Wicklow Arts Office, Wicklow County Council. In 2015 she received The Model Cara Award, Cairde Visual 2015; selected by artist Mark Garry. In 2013 she was overall winner of the County Wicklow Visual Arts Open Submission, Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray; selected by Patrick T Murphy, Director of Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin. In 2009 she received a Wicklow County Council Individual Artist’s Bursary Award. Her work was purchased under the Per Cent for Art scheme for Tara Hill School, Gorey, County Wexford, and is included in the collections of Aberystwyth University; Avolon; Ballinglen Museum of Contemporary Art; Chapter One Restaurant, Dublin; IPUT; and the OPW Irish State Art Collection.
Helen Blake was one of ten Irish artists invited to travel to China with their exhibition 'Youyi', which showed in Hangzhou and Shanghai in 2019. The exhibition was part of the official celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic and cultural relations between Ireland and China, and will be shown by the Embassy of Ireland at Art Beijing 2021.
Helen Blake is represented by The Molesworth Gallery, Dublin, and Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.
She is a fellow of Ballinglen Arts Foundation, Ballycastle, Co Mayo; and is a member of the artist collective N I N E.
Blake grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and graduated with an honours degree in Visual Art from Aberystwyth University, Wales. She lives and works in County Wicklow, Ireland.
Solo shows include: "Recent Works', The Molesworth Gallery, Dublin (upcoming July 2021); ‘Choir’, Limerick Museum (2019); 'Recent Works', The Molesworth Gallery, Dublin (2019); 'New Paintings', Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast (2018); 'Recent Works', The Molesworth Gallery, Dublin (2017); Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, Co Wicklow (2016); 'New Paintings', Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast (2015); FUTURES 14, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin (2014); ‘Accession’, Iontas Arts Centre, Castleblaney, Co Monaghan (2015); ‘Self-assembly’, Market Place Arts Centre, Armagh (2012).
Group shows include Art Beijing 2021 (with the Embassy of Ireland); Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition, London, UK (2019, 2018, 2016); FUTURES Anthology 2011-2014, RHA, Dublin; Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, RHA, Dublin (2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2009); Beep Biennial Painting Prize, Swansea, Wales; Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition, Belfast, N. Ireland; China Academy of Art CAA Museum, Hangzhou, China; Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts Museum, Chongqing, China; Suzhou Art Museum, China; Shenyang Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, China; Hangzhou Public Library, China; Consulate of Ireland, Shanghai, China; VUE National Contemporary Art Fair, RHA, Dublin (with The Molesworth Gallery); Three Works, Scarborough, UK; Candida Stevens Gallery, Chichester, UK; Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast, N. Ireland; The Molesworth Gallery, Dublin; Lavit Gallery, Cork; Alan Kluckow Fine Art, Berkshire, UK; Claremorris Open Exhibition, Claremorris, Co Mayo; ART WORKS, Eigse, Carlow Arts Festival (2016, 2012, 2009, 2008); Oireachtas Art Exhibition, Dun Laoghaire; 90th Anniversary Exhibition, Aberystwyth University, Wales; RUA RED, South Dublin Arts Centre (2018, 2016, 2009); Cairde Visual, Sligo (2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014); Periphery Space, Gorey, Co Wexford; Thames-Side Studios Gallery, London, UK. Blake was an invited artist at Boyle Arts Festival, Boyle, Co Roscommon (2018, 2014), and Dunlavin Festival of Arts (2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015).
In 2016 Blake received an Artist Support Award from Wicklow Arts Office, Wicklow County Council. In 2015 she received The Model Cara Award, Cairde Visual 2015; selected by artist Mark Garry. In 2013 she was overall winner of the County Wicklow Visual Arts Open Submission, Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray; selected by Patrick T Murphy, Director of Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin. In 2009 she received a Wicklow County Council Individual Artist’s Bursary Award. Her work was purchased under the Per Cent for Art scheme for Tara Hill School, Gorey, County Wexford, and is included in the collections of Aberystwyth University; Avolon; Ballinglen Museum of Contemporary Art; Chapter One Restaurant, Dublin; IPUT; and the OPW Irish State Art Collection.
Helen Blake was one of ten Irish artists invited to travel to China with their exhibition 'Youyi', which showed in Hangzhou and Shanghai in 2019. The exhibition was part of the official celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic and cultural relations between Ireland and China, and will be shown by the Embassy of Ireland at Art Beijing 2021.
Helen Blake is represented by The Molesworth Gallery, Dublin, and Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.
She is a fellow of Ballinglen Arts Foundation, Ballycastle, Co Mayo; and is a member of the artist collective N I N E.