Rachel O’Neill
Rachel O’Neill is a Northern Irish designer who fuses fine art with applied design creating limited edition pieces predominantly from Textiles.
Rachel's Looplaa Collection embodies a beautiful application of the practical product, Velcro. This material is manipulated to create stunning structures developing them as unique lighting sculptures and wall pieces for the interior. She has exhibited her Looplaa Collection on both local and international platforms since graduating from the School of Fine Art and Design at the University of Ulster in 2005. Rachel was awarded a placement on Craft NI's making it 05 programme.
She works at the interface between art and design using a variety of tactile materials to create wonderfully playful one-off installations and limited edition pieces for corporate and private interiors and special events.
Taking much of her inspiration from the magnificent sea and landscapes of her native Ireland, Rachel's objects have a fluid, often amorphous visual quality redefining their purpose and shapes whether they are used as decorative lighting, wall and floor coverings, body adornment or childrens toys.
In keeping with the deep-rooted crafts heritage of a rural society, Rachel loves working with her hands, enjoying the challenge of transforming heavy-duty industrial textiles and fabrics into magically beautiful commissioned works of art or affordable design products.
Materials Used:
Product Types:
Professional Experience
2011 4th biennale international du lin de portneuf, Canada
2011 Linen Diaspora Biennale, National Gallery, Dublin
2010 ‘Pedestal’ exhibition, Craft NI, Belfast
2010 ‘Just for US’, Space CRAFT, Belfast
2009 ‘Designers & makers’, F.E. McWilliam gallery, Banbridge
2009 ‘Beauty & the Beast’, British European Design Group, New York
2009 International Contemporary Furniture Fair, New York
2009 Maison et Objet, Paris, France
2008 International Contempary Furniture Fair, New York
2008 DESIGNALE, Munich, Germany
2008 Maison et Objet, Paris, France
2008 IMM, Cologne, Germany
2008-09 Espace Pepin, Montreal, Canada
2008 Art in the Loft, The Stables, Portaferry
2007 Maison et Objet, Paris, France
2007 My Home, Ideal Home Exhibition, Belfast
2007 County Down Crafts Annual Exhibition, Space CRAFT
2006-08 Yard Gallery, Holywood
2006-08 Democratic Art Walls, Habitat Dublin
2006 125th Royal Ulster Acadey Exhibition, Ormeau Baths Gallery
2006 Commissioning, Space CRAFT
2006 Art for Mercy Charity Auction, St Andrews University, Scotland
2005 124th Royal Ulster Academy Exhibition, Ulster Museum, Belfast
2005 Urban Arts Academy, Waterfront Hall, Belfast
2005 New Designers, Islington, London
2011 Hallworth gallery, Los Angeles
2011 Private residence, Paris, France
2010 Pprivate residence, Helen’s bay
2010 Ghislaine viñas interior design, New York
2009 Peugeot avenue showroom, Champs Elysees, Paris
2009 Crafts Council of Ireland, showcase, RDS Dublin
2008 Bentleys Townhouse, Dublin
2008 fashion week, CMPR, Grand Opera House, Belfast
2008 Peugeot avenue showroom, Berlin
2008 Velcro ltd, Velcro UK headquarters, Cheshire
2008 private residence, New York
2008 Hamilton road dental practice, Bangor
2007 Space CRAFT, Befast
2007 2008 fashion week, CMPR, Grand Opera House, Belfast
2006 Patton group headquarters, Ballymena
2006 private residence, Donegal, Ireland
2008 Wallpaper*, Work selected for display in Bergdorf Goodman, New York
2008 Arts Council of Northern Ireland, General Art Award, SIAP
2008 Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Travel Award, SIAP
2006 Nesta ‘insight-out’ programme
2006 Arts Council of Northern Ireland, General Art Award, SIAP
2005 University of Ulster Permanent Collection
2009 Arcade, March/April, Paris Inspiriert, Germany
2009 House & Home, March/April, National Treasures, Ireland
2009 Belfast Telegraph, January
2008 Belfast Telegraph, December, Crafty Gifts
2008 Home Miami , July, Pop, USA
2008 Home Fort Lauderdale, July, Pop, USA
2008 Modern Carpets and Textiles for Interiros, Summer, ICFF Report, UK
2008 Residential Lighting, June, Stick Together, USA
2008 Canadian Interiros, May/June, Double Feature , Canada
2008 Damn, April, Now on Products, Belgium
2008 Ireland homes and interiors and living, April, Full Beam Ahead, Ireland
2008 Northern Ireland homes and lifestyle, March, Editors Choice
2008 Evening Standard, February, Maison et Objet Review, London, UK
2008 Interior Digest, January, Design News-Material Tricks, Russia
2008 H.O.M.E., January, A Kln Humour, Hungary
2007 House & Home, December, The Light Fantastic, Ireland
2007 Marie Claire Fashion, November, Accros au Lustre, France
2007 County Down Spectator, November, The World goes Loopy for Looplaa
2007 Belfast Telegraph, September, Velcro Maestro
2007 Image Interiors, September, Whats New, Ireland
2007 Northern Ireland Homes & Interiors, June, Lighting with a Twist
2007 Ireland homes and interiors and living, May, Leading Lines, Ireland
2007 South Belfast Life, Spring, Dead Crafty
2007 Irish News, April, Trying to Make it with Craft NI
2006 Ulster Business, July, The Art of Business
2005 Ireland homes and interiors and living, September, Top Talent, Ireland
2005 Ulster Tatler, August, See Differently, Think Differently
Contact Details
36 Kenlis Street
Banbridge
BT32 3LL
