Gail Mahon
Gail is a ceramic artist, maker of objects, event organiser, curator and ideas whisperer, based in Northern Ireland. She produces one-off sculptural works for exhibitions and commissions both for the private and corporate markets and her work is also available through selected outlets.
Gail returned to Derry after living in England since graduating in Contemporary Crafts at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2001. The unique style of her quirky vessels, have been awarded Winner in Excellence at the British Trade Craft Fair 2007 and at the RDS National Crafts Competition, 2006,with the CCOI Purchase Prize.
In 2008 Gail Mahon completed a two year placement at Flowerfield Arts Centre on Craft NI's making it programme for craft business development.
"I see my practice in ceramics as my primary language to explore the balance and interrelationship between object, image and environment through a hybrid context to my practise in both making and curation, seeking out the boundaries of both practices and the shift of role in contemporary making.
I bring together constructed forms and ceramic techniques into the making, thinking and development of my objects and installations using a amalgam of techniques to create the works: coiling, slab building, slip cast and throwing or working with found ceramic objects. The balances of materials, with mixed media, edifice connections to curation and the platforms which best speak to audiences and draw out the story or lyrical qualities in the work."
Materials Used:
Professional Experience
2011 Thirty, Flowerfield A.C, Portstewart
2010 ICMEA International Emerging Artist Comp, Fuping, China
2010 Just for US, Spacecraft, Belfast
2009/10 Generation, National Craft Gallery, Killkenny
2009 Future Makers Exhibition, National Craft Gallery, Killkenny
2009 Ceramic Sculpture Competition, The Hallward, Dublin
2009 RDS Crafts Competition Winners Touring Exhibition
2009 Hallward Sculpture Exhibition, The Hallward, Dublin
2009 Belfast, Spacecraft, Belfast
2009 Loving You, Leeds Craft & Design Centre, Leeds
2008/9 Winter Into Spring, The Hallward, Dublin
2008/9 Christmas Exhibition, Leitrim Sculpture Centre, Leitrim
2008 Ceramic Sculpture Competition, The Hallward, Dublin
2008 Monochrome, The Tree Gallery, Derbyshire
2008 Written Word, Ferrers Gallery, Leicestershire
2007 Looking Back, Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool
2007 Distilling the Silver Dusk, Flowerfield Arts Centre, Portstewart
2007 Emerge & Infuse, Space CRAFT, Belfast
2007 Distilling the Silver Dusk, Space CRAFT, Belfast
2006/7 County Down Crafts Annual Exhibition, Space CRAFT, Belfast
2006 RDS Crafts Competition Winners Touring Exhibition
2009 Waterside Theatre, Derry, NI
2007 North West Regional College
2007 Framed ceramic piece, private commission
2006 Collection of GFM design vessels, Alan Goodall, private commission
2010 Craft NI Selectors Prize
2009 Muriel Gahan Scholarship nominee- RDS National Competition
2009 Arts Council NI Support for Individual Artist Award
2009 Crafts Council of Ireland- Practitioners Grant for Research & Development
2007 British Craft Trade Fair Overall Award for Excellence – Winner
2007 Invest NI Start Up Grant
2006 Crafts Council of Ireland Purchase Prize – RDS National Competition
2006 Craft NI making it
