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 to guide the evolution of the work, she makes small, overtly hand-made paintings which record and examine colour conversations within accumulating pattern structures, embracing accidents, flaws and discrepancies within their rhythms.
Helen Blake grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and graduated with an honours degree in Visual Art from Aberystwyth University, Wales. She currently lives and works in County Wicklow, Ireland.
Solo shows include 'New Paintings and Watercolours', 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 Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition, London; FUTURES Anthology 2011-2014, RHA, Dublin; Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, RHA, Dublin (2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2009); Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition, Belfast; China Academy of Art CAA Museum, Hangzhou, China; VUE National Contemporary Art Fair, RHA, Dublin (with The Molesworth Gallery); Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast; The Molesworth Gallery, Dublin; Lavit Gallery, Cork; Claremorris Open Exhibition, Claremorris, Co Mayo; ART WORKS, Eigse, Carlow Arts Festival; Oireachtas Art Exhibition, Dun Laoghaire; 90th Anniversary Exhibition, Aberystwyth University; RUA RED, South Dublin Arts Centre; Cairde Visual, Sligo (2017, 2016, 2015, 2014). She was an invited artist at Boyle Arts Festival 2014, Boyle, Co Roscommon, and Dunlavin Festival of Arts (2018, 2017, 2016, 2015).
In 2016 Helen 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 and in 2011 she was selected for the Artlinks Artists and Practice programme with curator Cliodhna Shaffrey. 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; Chapter One Restaurant, Dublin; and the OPW Irish State Art Collection.
Helen Blake is represented by Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast, and by The Molesworth Gallery, Dublin.
She is a fellow of Ballinglen Arts Foundation, Ballycastle, Co Mayo.
Helen Blake grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and graduated with an honours degree in Visual Art from Aberystwyth University, Wales. She currently lives and works in County Wicklow, Ireland.
Solo shows include 'New Paintings and Watercolours', 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 Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition, London; FUTURES Anthology 2011-2014, RHA, Dublin; Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, RHA, Dublin (2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2009); Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition, Belfast; China Academy of Art CAA Museum, Hangzhou, China; VUE National Contemporary Art Fair, RHA, Dublin (with The Molesworth Gallery); Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast; The Molesworth Gallery, Dublin; Lavit Gallery, Cork; Claremorris Open Exhibition, Claremorris, Co Mayo; ART WORKS, Eigse, Carlow Arts Festival; Oireachtas Art Exhibition, Dun Laoghaire; 90th Anniversary Exhibition, Aberystwyth University; RUA RED, South Dublin Arts Centre; Cairde Visual, Sligo (2017, 2016, 2015, 2014). She was an invited artist at Boyle Arts Festival 2014, Boyle, Co Roscommon, and Dunlavin Festival of Arts (2018, 2017, 2016, 2015).
In 2016 Helen 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 and in 2011 she was selected for the Artlinks Artists and Practice programme with curator Cliodhna Shaffrey. 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; Chapter One Restaurant, Dublin; and the OPW Irish State Art Collection.
Helen Blake is represented by Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast, and by The Molesworth Gallery, Dublin.
She is a fellow of Ballinglen Arts Foundation, Ballycastle, Co Mayo.
