Two new exhibitions opening at Mayo's Custom House Studios and Gallery

TWO new exhibitions are opening at the Custom House Studios and Gallery in Westport this coming week.

The Fresh to the Salt is a two-person exhibition by visual artists Angie Shanahan and Bridget Flannery (posthumously 1959 – 2024), which will be shown in the main gallery space.

The exhibition consists of drawings and paintings responding to the artists’ engagement with coastal and riverine landscapes through drawing, sketch booking and mapping. History, placenames and local studies also feed into their preoccupation with the sense of place.

Angie Shanahan’s current practice involves landscape impacted by human presence usually set within a specific water defined place, the coast. She has had numerous solo exhibitions and has participated in numerous group shows nationwide.

During her lifetime, Bridget Flannery’s work was mainly focused on painting and drawing. She consistently exhibited in solo and group shows in Ireland and Europe. Her work is held in public and private collections nationally and internationally.

False Kingdoms, a solo exhibition presented by Kaye Maahs, will be shown in the upstairs gallery space.

Maahs’ practice is devoted to the pursuit of painting. With the aid of photography, she documents moments, places and environments. Images are utilised as navigation props for assistance when she paints.

Maahs’ has held numerous solo exhibitions and has participated in multiple group shows nationally. She has won many awards including the Thomas Dammann Junior Memorial Trust Award and the Hunt Museums Curator’s Choice award.

The exhibitions' opening event is on Thursday, August 21, from 6 to 8 p.m., with opening remarks by Anne Hodge, National Gallery of Ireland, and Katriona Gillespie, manager of the Custom House Studios and Gallery.

Supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Mayo County Council.