Sheila talks to the Irish artist Helen O’Leary, whose work defies conventional categorisations of painting and sculpture, and is often described as 'knitting with wood', about the relationship between her personal history and her work, and her deep engagement with found and repurposed materials. They discuss nomadism and the dual cultures of Ireland and the United States, the influence of Irish music and literature, experimentation, pigments and the integration of teaching with art practice.

This conversation was recorded in Dublin in front of a small audience in July 2024.

Find more information on Helen O'Leary's work here and follow her on Instagram.

All enquiries to [email protected]

This episode was co-hosted by John Tuomey + Sheila O'Donnell of O'Donnell + Tuomey Architects.

Produced and Narrated by Orla O'Kane.

Co-produced + Original Music by Peter Power.

Performed by Brian O'Kane.

Mixed by Kevin Frieden.

Graphic Design by Art Dept.

Artwork by Ivan Crimmins.

Photos by Aisling McCoy, Mairead McCarthy + Hugh Ivers.

Recorded live by Mark Cantan.

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