Two Singers One Song exhibition launching at Mayo gallery

A NEW exhibition bringing together the work of artists Jackie Askew and Sheila Vollmer will open at the Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, on Friday, May 29.

Two Singers One Song features painting, drawing and sculpture, arising from the creative relationship the two artists have developed through decades of collaboration and artistic exchange. Rooted in a shared visual language of abstraction, the exhibition highlights both the distinctiveness of their individual practices and the visual harmony that connects them.

The artists first met while studying at Saint Martin's School of Art in London during the late 1980s, having moved there from Ireland and Canada respectively. Their connection led to several years sharing a studio in south London, where they worked alongside one another while developing their own approaches to abstraction.

Although now based in different countries (Askew in Ireland and Vollmer in the UK) the artists continue an ongoing dialogue through their work, exchanging ideas around form, materiality and process.

“Each of our respective art practices is distinct in its unique use of abstract construction, made independently in our studios,” the artists said. “Yet, there is a clear sense of harmony in our visual languages that unites our work.”

Throughout the exhibition, painting, drawing and sculpture are presented in conversation with one another, revealing shared concerns with rhythm, balance and structure. While their materials and methods differ, the works resonate through a mutual sensitivity to composition and the expressive possibilities of abstraction.

Askew’s paintings and drawings are marked by layered compositions and an intuitive use of colour and gesture, with forms emerging through layering and reassembly. Vollmer’s sculptural work explores structure, surface and space through tactile, materially driven forms that balance solidity with lyricism.

The exhibition title, Two Singers One Song, reflects the synchronicity between two distinct artistic voices and the enduring connection that has shaped their practices over time.

The Linenhall gallery exhibitions are selected via an open call process with a peer review panel of independent artists who review and select submissions for exhibition over a two-year period. The selection panel currently consists of Alice Maher, Joanna Hopkins, Bryan Gerard Duffy, Nuala Clarke and Conor O'Grady.

The launch event takes place on Friday, May 29, at 5 p.m. Entry is free and all are welcome. The exhibition continues until July 4.