NCAD Conscious Makers
Glass and Ceramics
NCAD Conscious Makers is a collective group of students studying glass and ceramics at the National College of Art and Design. They consider fine art and design and apply a variation of processes combining new and old ways of working.
Meet the artists
Dylan Beacon
Dylan Beacon grew up in Laois. He is currently completing a BA in Fine Art, specialising in Ceramics at NCAD Dublin.
Dylan uses clay as a medium to explore ideas ranging from environment to pop-culture. His most recent works delve deep into the notions of childhood and personality with the intention of opening his audience up to questioning one's personal journey, struggles and achievements.
dbeacon7@gmail.com
Naomi Boylan
Naomi Boylan grew up in Dublin’s North Inner City and has been studying ceramics since 2012. Naomi is currently studying a BA in Fine Art Ceramics and Visual Culture. Her past work has been inspired by growth, both personal and environmental. She has an interest in slip casting and hopes to travel to the US to further her studies this
coming summer
Destini Redpath
Destini Redpath is a Dublin based artist studying her second year BA(Hons) Fine Art and Education. Destini explores self expression through her work, her pieces generally hold a personal reflection or representation of her beliefs and qualities. Destini has a huge interest in growth and the fluidity of growth and movement within life, she uses glass to explore these qualities.
Bonnie Kavanagh
Bonnie Kavanagh has returned to her native city of Dublin and to her love of ceramics. She is currently studying for BA in Fine Art at the National College of Art and Design.
Bonnie's current practice is heavily influenced by her therapeutic work with children. Employing hand building techniques and various surface treatments she has used ceramics and mixed media to inquire into issues of attachment and is currently exploring and researching the effects of severe trauma on the body and mind.
Shane Keeling
Shane Keeling is a 21 year old artist from Wexford but currently lives in Dublin. He's a second year student working towards a BA in fine art ceramics. His work hold strong influence from the works of The Chapman Brothers and Slinkachu and he prides himself on his quirky style.
Shane's work usually explores the area of addiction and substance abuse, Whether it be alcohol, drugs or food. His work reflects his own personal experiences while also making them relatable to the audience.
Isabel Loughran
Isabel Loughran from South Dublin is working towards her BA in Fine Art, Specialising in Ceramics at The National College of Art and Design, Dublin.
Isabel explores contradictions and paradoxes that can be translated in the potential of clay and other materials. She is influenced by forms and surface qualities found in the microscopic world
Maggie McGrath
Maggie is a Dublin based artist, currently undertaking a Ba(Hons) Fine Art, specialising in glass and ceramics. Maggie uses colour throughout her work, ultiziling techniques such as blowing and coldworking to create optical pieces that the viewer can interact with. Her most recent works combine coloured laminants and blown forms, she hopes to develop this throughout her portfolio.
Moira McGrath
Moira McGrath is a Dublin based artist. She is currently in her second year working to complete a BA of Fine Art in Ceramics and Glass in the National College of Art and Design in Dublin.
Moiras work is heavily influenced by her family and friends. She tries to incorporate as much of her humour and personality into her work as possible, drawing on everyday experiences to keep a light hearted energy in her glass. She works mainly with hot glass.
Darren Martin
Darren Martin is a Dublin based artist, currently undertaking a BA(Hons) in Fine Art and Education at the National College of Art and Design. Darren specialises in glass and throughout his studio practice experiments with hot glass and cold working techniques. His work is focused on the aesthetic qualities of nature, particularly with flowers and animals. He focuses on the colours of the objects he studies, and enjoys trying to incorporate his illustrative drawing style with his work, recently exploring the results of layered glass and vibrant colours.
Megan McGuirk
Megan McGuirk is a Dublin based artist, she has received her FETAC award from Ballyfermot College of Further Education in sculpture and is currently working towards completing a BA(Hons) in Glass & Ceramics in NCAD.
She is influenced by floral forms and patterns. Her most recent work is influenced by the effects of war. Megan creates her pieces through lampworking working with soft glass.
Roisin Smith
Roisin Smith was born and raised in County Longford. She is Dublin based artist and is currently studying a BA(Hons) in Fine Art and Education in the National College of Art and Design Dublin.
Rosins current practice is strongly influenced by natural forms and social issues. Roisin incorporated her drawings into her pieces. She works with techniques such as glassblowing and casting
Jilly Hanrahan
Jilly Hanrahan grew up in the Northside of Dublin. Jilly is currently undertaking a BA in Fine Art specialising in Glass
Jilly is exploring techniques such as casting to create her nature inspired pieces. Through drawing she examines floral patterns and colours and incorporates these into her glass designs to depict innocence through nature.
Stuart Walsh
Stuart Walsh is a South Dublin based artist. Stuart is currently undertaking a Ba(Hons) Fine Art. Stuarts pieces focus on merging materials, creating mixed media pieces that utlilize areas of each material,such as the fragility of glass. He wishes to develop these contrasting ideas further and examine how different mediums interact with one another.
stuartwalsh97@gmail.com