Reviewed By: Wexford County Council

Studied at Edinburgh College of Art

Janet Pierce was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1947. She studied at Edinburgh College of Art and Moray House, Edinburgh from 1965-1969 and had her first solo exhibition in the Everhart Museum, Scranton, Pennysylvania in 1973. After four years in America she moved to Ireland where she has since lived and worked, while keeping in touch with her native Scotland.
Pierce’s first Solo exhibition in Ireland was in the Arts Council Gallery, Belfast in 1977 since when she has continued to exhibit in Solo and Group exhibitions in Ireland, U.K,India and in the U.S.

Pierce was Regional Arts Officer, Fermanagh District Council from 1982-86 and in the following years was a guest artist at the Museum of Modern Art, Edinburgh; guest lecturer at Edinburgh University; Arts Officer, Scottish Arts Council, Edinburgh and part-time lecturer in Fine Art, Painting, NCAD Dublin and at DLCADT, Dunlaoighaire before becoming Education Officer at the Douglas Hyde Gallery, Dublin.

View ‘Idir Earthartu:8’ within the Collection

Idir Earthartu 8 by Janet Pierce

A Deep Connection With Landscape

Pierce became a full-time painter in 1995 and in 1998-1999 she collaborated with the traditional singers, Maighread and Triona Ní Dhomhnaill, in their CD ‘Idir an Dá Sholas’ (between the two lights), a collaboration which helped Pierce realise her deep connection with landscape. Pierce’s work, in the past, has been informed by emotional landscapes whether it be the Scottish Highlands or the rugged seascapes of Donegal.
The art critic Marina Vaizey has observed: ‘Her images move from the specific to the universal. Janet’s paintings capture light, the idea of change and also the dissolution of borders, journeys in time and space, expressed through that essential of the artist, coloured light. All is flux, constant movement, shapes turning and flowing, metamorphosing, never static or sharply outlined.’
However, following an intensely close involvement with India over the last eight years, Pierce’s work took a different direction. It finally came about as a result of highly mystical experience at the source of the holy river Ganges, high up in the Himalyas, where she spent a month meditating and painting in February 2006. The word OM, from the ancient Sanskrit alphabet, is the sound of the universe or the Source or God, and reflect’s Pierce’s desire to return to that Sacred Space within, through meditation. Using gold leaf from Old Dehli, these new abstract works on paper has resulted in an intensification of earlier considerations, her hunger for transcendence realized through the contemplation of landscape and of the cosmos.

Exhibitions

• Hamilton Gallery, Sligo, 2014
• Galerie ArtFelt, New Delhi, India, 2012
• Hamilton Gallery, Sligo, 2012
• Galerie ArtFelt, New Delhi, India, 2011
• Hamilton Gallery, Sligo, 2011
• Donamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise, 2010
• The Market House, Monaghan, 2010
• The Higher Bridges Gallery, Enniskillen, 2010
• Ha Arte no Giraldo Gallery, Evora, Portugal, June 21st, 2009
• Warren Gallery, Castletownsend, Co. Cork, 2009
• Galerie ArtFelt, New Delhi, India, 2008
• An Galearí, Falcarragh, Co.Donegal, 2007
• Galway Arts Festival, ArtEssence Gallery2007
• Pigyard Gallery, Wexford , 2006
• Fermanagh County Museum, Enniskillen, 2006
• Taylor Galleries, Dublin, 2005
• Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, 2005
• Joan Clancy Gallery, Waterford, 2004
• Triveni Kala Sangam, New Dehli, 2004
• St. John’s Arts Centre, Listowel Writer’s Week, Kerry, 2003
• ‘Hidden Fermanagh’ Fermanagh County Museum, 2003
• Taylor Galleries, Dublin, 2002
• University College Cork, 2001
• Galway Arts Centre, 2000
• Vanguard Gallery, Cork, 2000
• The Glebe Gallery, Donegal, 2000
• Taylor Galleries, Dublin, 1998
• Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast, 1998
• Triskell Arts Centre, Cork, 1998
• The Butler Gallery, Kilkenny, 1997
• Art First, Cork St. London, 1997
• RHA Gallagher Gallery, 1996
• Limerick City Art Gallery, 1996
• Galway Arts Centre, 1996
• The Model Arts Centre, Sligo, 1994
• Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh, 1994
• Taylor Galleries, Dublin, 1993
• Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh, 1991
• Andrew Grant Gallery, Edinburgh College of Art, 1990
• The Grafton Gallery, Dublin, 1988
• Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast, 1987
• Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh, 1986
• Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast, 1984
• Fermanagh County Museum, Enniskillen, 1978
• Arts Council Gallery, Belfast, 1977
• Everhart Museum, Scranton, Pennysylvania, U.S.A, 1973

Group Exhibitions

• Kala Academy, Panjim, Goa, India, 2014
• Claremorris Gallery, Mayo, 2013
• Soul’s Gallery, Benaulin, Goa, India, 2013 
• International Artist’s Group Show, Soul’s Gallery, Goa, 2012
• Taylor Galleries, Dublin, 2008
• Galerie ArtFelt, New Delhi, India, 2008
• DCLA, Santa Monica, CA, USA, 2008
• Pigs Yard Gallery, Wexford,2008
• Taylor Gallery, Dublin, 2007
• Robert Roman Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA, 2007
• Pigsyard Gallery, Wexford, 2007
• Delia Cabal Fine Art, Santa Monica, USA, 2007
• Millcove Gallery, Co.Kerry, 2006
• Siar 50 Irish Museum of Contemporary Art, 2005
• Garden of Heavenly Delights Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, 2005
• The Hunt Museum, Limerick, 2005
• Flowers Graphics, London, 2005
• Cananacor Gallery, Co. Donegal, 2005
• OSB Gallery, Enniscorthy, Co. Wicklow, 2005
• Stone Gallery, Dublin, 2005
• OSB Gallery, Enniscorthy, Co. Wicklow, 2004
• Art for Amnesty, Irish Museum of Modern Art, 2004
• New Prints, Graphic Print Studio, Dublin, 2004
• Robert Roman Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ, USA, 2004
• Mullan Gallery, Belfast, 2004
• DCA Fine Art, Venice, CA, USA, 2004
• Islamic Cultural Centre, London, 2004
• On the Verge, DCA Fine Art, Venice, CA, USA, 2003
• Celtic Art, DCA Fine Art, Venice, CA, USA, 2003
• Sanskritti Foundation, New Dehli, India, 2003
• ‘Every Blooming Thing’, Botanics Garden Gallery, Dublin, 2003
• Gallery 1, Kilkenny, 2003
• R.H.A. Gallery, Dublin, 2003
• Light and Landscape, Screig Gallery, Donegal, 2002
• Works on Paper, Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast, 2002
• CASe Exhibition, Lavit Gallery, Cork, 2002
• Opera Festival Exhibition, Kellys Strand Hotel, Wexford, 2002
• CASe Exhibition, Lavit Gallery, Cork, 2001
• Opera Festival Exhibition, 2001
• Kellys Strand Hotel, Wexford, 2001
• New Images from North Mayo, The Courthouse Gallery,2000
• Ballycastle, Co.Mayo, 2000
• ‘Taispeantas Ealaine’, An Oireachtais, County Hall, Dun Laoighaire, 2000
• RHA Gallagher Gallery, Dublin, 2000
• Opera Festival Exhibition, Kellys Strand Hotel, Wexford, 2000
• Taylor Galleries, Dublin, 1999
• Art First, London, 1998
• R.H.A. Banquet Exhibition, Dublin, 1998
• Opera Festival Exhibition, Kellys Strand Hotel, Wexford, 1998 
• ‘Taispeantas Ealaine’, An Oireachtais, Guiness Hopstore, Dublin, 1998
• Cork RTC Art Fest ’96, Cork, 1996
• ‘Sioiru’, National Maternity Hospital Centenary Exhibition, Dublin, 1994
• R.H.A. Gallagher Gallery, Dublin, 1994
• Coram Gallery, London, 1994
• Artists for Somalia, Ireland, 1993
• ‘Festival Exhibition’, Model Arts Centre, Sligo, 1992
• ‘Women’s 2000’ Art Exhibition, Glasgow, 1990
• Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour, RA, Edinburgh, 1990
• Mount Street Gallery, Dublin, 1989
• Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, 1987
• ‘Six Women Artists’, Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Monaghan, 1987
• ‘Sea and Shore’, Scottish Arts Club, Edinburgh, 1981
• ‘Northern Landscape’, Octagon Gallery, Belfast, 1981
• Tom Caldwell Gallery, Belfast, 1980
• Royal Ulster Academy, Ulster Museum, Belfast, 1978
• Exhibition of Living Art, Limerick, 1977
• U.S.W.A., Ulster Museum, Belfast, 1976
• Keystone College, Pennsylvania, U.S.A, 1975
• Binghampton Museum, Pennsylvania, U.S.A, 1972
• Corning Museum, New York State, U.S.A, 1971

Collections

• Irish Ambassador’s Residency, New Delhi, India.
• Irish Embassy, New Delhi, India
• Dept. of Justice, Tullamore, Co. Offaly
• Bank of Ireland
• Wexford County Council
• Crawford Gallery, Cork
• Scranton Art Museum, PA. USA
• The Ballinglen Archive, The Ballinglen Arts Foundation, Co.Mayo
• Mid Western Health Board, Limerick
• University of Limerick
• OPW, Dublin
• Coopers and Lybrand
• Wang Computers
• Mexican Embassy, Dublin
• Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Belfast
• Smurfit Group, New York, U.S.A.
• Allied Irish Banks, Dublin
• Western General Hospital, Edinburgh
• Scottish Arts Council, Edinburgh
• Fermanagh District Council, Enniskillen
• Fermanagh County Museum
• Ministry of Finance, Belfast
• DBA T.V. Belfast

Awards

• The Banff Art Residency Award, Canada, 2013
• Culture Ireland Award, 2010
• Culture Ireland Award, 2009
• Culture Ireland Award, 2008
• Culture Ireland Award, 2006
• Sanskritti Foundation, New Dehli, India, 2002
• Elected member of Aosdána, 2000
• Fundacion Valpairiso, Mojacar, Spain, 2000
• Ballinglen Arts Foundation, Ballycastle, Co. Mayo, 1999
• Artflight to USA, 1998
• Artflight to USA, 1997
• Irish Arts Council – major visual arts bursary, 1996
• Arts Council of Ireland award, 1995
• U.S.A. – Ireland Exchange,1994
• Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, U.S.A.
• Cultural Relations Committee – travel award, 1993
• Arts Council of Ireland – assistance award, 1993
• Scottish Arts Council – assistance award, 1989
• Arts Council Of N. Ireland – travel award, 1980
• Arts Council of N. Ireland – exhibition bursary, 1977

Website: http://www.janetpierce.com/index.php

Reviews:

http://www.janetpierce.com/burgess.php

http://www.janetpierce.com/dermothealy.php

http://www.janetpierce.com/dunne.php

http://www.janetpierce.com/hickey.php

http://www.janetpierce.com/ghosh.php

Youtube Links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=230C1Qp2-Pk