STATEMENT
My sculpture and ceramic practice is rooted in a creative partnership with the vast ecological and geological forces in the south of Ireland where I live. Since returning to Ireland in 2022, I have found a sense of connection and re-belonging along the coastline and surrounding landscapes of my youth. Here, I create artworks both formed and informed by the landscape, exploring a material-led process to make sense of myself and the world. Central to my practice lies a native material inquiry conducted through artistic fieldwork, material testing, outdoor and indoor studio time. I experiment with atmospheric ceramic firings such as wood, raku and saggar as part of the creative process, while embedding natural elements like rocks into my work to narrate the passage of time and place. These slow processes result in ongoing material studies and expressive sculptures that explore the nature of clay through movement and texture, evolving as I discover new ways to interact with place and matter. Through my practice, I aim to capture the essence of the Irish landscape, reflecting the dynamic forces that shape it and inviting audiences into deeper contemplation of our connection with the natural world.
BIOGRAPHY
Siobhán Joyce (b. 1986) is an emerging artist based in rural west Waterford and east Cork, Ireland. She graduated from the Limerick School of Art & Design in 2008 and gained extensive experience working throughout Europe as a designer and facilitator. In early 2022, Siobhán returned to Ireland to pursue a professional art practice in sculpture and ceramics with the intention of reconnecting with and drawing inspiration from the rural landscapes she grew up in. Mostly self-taught, Siobhán has built a repertoire of traditional, experimental and land-based processes, gaining proficiency in handling materials and applying these abilities within a contemporary art sensibility.
During her time as a full-time studio member at the National Sculpture Factory in Cork, Siobhán produced a series of environmental sculptures entitled Between Rock that explore the transformative potential of materials embedded with cultural and ecological narratives. She also dedicates significant time to developing her ceramic practice under the mentorship of Marcus O’Mahony while contributing to atmospheric wood-firing events. Her ongoing material research projects reflect her commitment to exploring innovative sculpture practices and in expressing a sense of place through her art, while her project Cré engages others in wild ceramic making excursions around Ireland.
Siobhán is a recipient of the Agility Award, funded by the Arts Council of Ireland. Recent group exhibitions include "Clay/works" at Cowshed in Dublin and "Small Things Like These" at the LHQ Gallery, Cork. She continues to be an active member of several professional organisations including the National Sculpture Factory, Visual Arts Ireland, Ceramics Ireland and the Mór Artist Collective.
AWARDS
- Agility Award 2023 - Arts Council of Ireland
MEMBERSHIPS
- Visual Arts Ireland (VAI)
- Ceramics Ireland
- National Sculpture Factory (NSF)
- Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI)
- Mór Artist Collective