Art Practice

This page offers an overview of Mary’s studio practice across first, second, and final year. Her work uses printmaking, drawing, photography, and constructed objects to explore themes of memory, loss, place, and identity, shaped by personal experience, research, and material exploration.

Final Year Project
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Artist Statement

Through my artwork, I aim to shed light on the emotional journey of those affected by Alzheimer’s disease. I hope my art can serve as a visual narrative, aiming to challenge societal perceptions and generate conversations surrounding this often-misunderstood condition. My inspiration comes from personal experiences with family members who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Witnessing my uncle and grandmother’s struggles and the gradual loss of their memories over the years sparked a desire within me to create art that captures the essence of this complex disease. I aim to

I use drawing, photography and print to visually represent the fragmented nature of memory and the gradual erosion of identity. Specifically, my work explores the similarities between the landscape of my uncle’s farm and the Alzheimer’s mind which are both ever-changing and decaying. Through screen printing, photography and drawings, I invite viewers to contemplate the fleeting nature of memories and the profound impact that Alzheimer's has on not only the person suffering with the disease but also on their loved ones and carers.

Second Year Project

'Message Markers'

This second-year project resulted in a series of three A5 etchings with aquatint. The work was developed through a combination of personal studio practice, research, and collaborative group work based in the Old Pumphouse on the Dublin Docks. The project focused on spaces that are no longer in active use and exist in a liminal state, where evidence of past function remains visible, but much of the original activity has ceased.

The final prints depict different viewpoints of the Mary’s uncle’s farm: an exterior view from the farmhouse, the disused milking parlour, and the door of the house. One etching was produced on the reverse of a previously used copper plate, allowing surface marks and scratches to remain visible. These marks contributed to the visual outcome by reinforcing the sense of age and wear present in the subject matter.

A concrete box was produced as part of the project and functioned as a physical and conceptual link between the Old Pumphouse and the farm. The materiality and form of the box referenced the industrial nature of the Pumphouse, while its function as a container reflected themes of preservation, containment, and loss present in both sites. The project examined how built environments retain traces of history through material decay and surface marks, while also acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding their future use.

First Year Project

'History and Memory'

This first-year print project explored themes of history and memory through an examination of Mary’s maternal family heritage in Belaveathy, an area rich in agricultural and social history. Using collage, etching, monoprint, and chine collé, the project combined photographic research, archival material, and printmaking processes to document family narratives, farmland, and past inhabitants of the area. The final outcome included a hand-bound book and constructed boxes made from found and modified materials, which acted as containers for printed imagery and historical references. Through these outcomes, the project investigated how personal and collective histories can be preserved through print, material processes, and physical objects.