Emily is a Northern Irish artist based in Manchester, working mainly in Oil. Within her painting practice, her work is a response to her surroundings and attempts to capture the feeling of looking for space and light while living in a city. Taking inspiration from the light moving around her studio, layering a mix of urban and exterior shadows in different glazes, creates a space trapped within the edges of the canvas. The layered light gives a sense of calm combatting the bustle of city life and is familiar, but vague enough to let the viewer respond on their own. Her work is centered around our connection to place and the feeling of longing for home, taking inspiration from the space along the coast of Northern Ireland and connecting it to her life in Manchester, layering light from both. It also explores the juxtaposition between interior/ urban patterns of light and shadows, vs the exterior, more spiritual, light. Her paintings attempt to create a liminal space within the borders of the canvas, trapping the viewer within them.

Irwin has exhibited in several artist- led shows, including ’Memoria et Locus’ in Manchester and ’Srishti’ in Salford.

She is also a founding member of the 1838 MSOA Collective in Manchester.

INSTAGRAM:

emily.irwinart

1838_collective