Realisations by Joseph Walsh at The American Irish Historical Society

22nd October 2008

Following an invitation by the American Irish Historical Society (AIHS), Irish Designer & Artist Joseph Walsh will present his first major solo exhibition of Design Art & Functional Objects in New York in October of this year. Entitled 'Realisations', the exhibition will take place at the Society's residence on Fifth Avenue from October 17th to November 2nd and honours Walsh's achievements to date, presenting some of his most significant work created over the last 10 years.

Featuring work that has successfully crossed the borders between design and art, engineering and craft, 'Realisations' is a celebration of artistic communication through design, making and material. Rich with conceptual thought, aesthetic value and structural resolve Walsh has, since he began his career, created a body of unique work. He began making at a very young age, establishing a Studio and workshop in Ireland in 1999. This has been developed, over subsequent years, into the unique environment it is today.

Joseph Walsh's work deals with the exploration of concepts; the concept of Figure and Form is one of communication, the forms created are abstract and yet are suggestive of silhouettes intended to provoke feelings and sensations as one's eye follows the line of the piece. In Prism Walsh took a simple sketch of the human form as his inspiration and developed Prism - a sophisticated geometric structure, while Formation - a new body of work - explores the composition of form, material and colour, emulating nature's forms with a timeless presence as though they have evolved like a formation or erosion.

In 2007 the completion of the Design Art Installation 'In Aer', an organic flowing form, gave Walsh the opportunity to fully indulge his ideas, to create and explore a concept this time without the restrictions of a functional brief.

In 'Realisations', each of these concepts are realised through different strands of his work. The limited edition Selected Works on view will include pieces such as 'Suaimhneas' a Rocking Chaise (which is in both the National Museum of Ireland Collection and the Collection of John H Bryan - Past Chairman and Life Trustee of the Art Institute of Chicago) and the Prism Cabinet which will be exhibited for the first time at the New York show. Joseph's one-of-a-kind Bespoke work will be represented by two significant pieces kindly on loan from private collections. The Design Art Installation 'In Aer' will be represented at the show by a photographic and graphic presentation. A Lecture Series will also take place in conjunction with the exhibition with presentations by Audrey Whitty, Curator with the National Museum of Ireland and Brian Kennedy, Curator with the National Craft Gallery of Ireland.

Although still at an early stage in his career, Joseph Walsh has created a significant body of work over the last 10 years. This work has received recognition through its inclusion in Museum, Corporate, Liturgical and Embassy Collections as well as numerous Private collections. He has participated in a number of international exhibitions including SOFA Chicago in 2006, 2007 (where he was invited to exhibit 'In Aer') and 2008 and his work has been critiqued by media in Europe and the US.

The show at the American Irish Historical Society is the first opportunity to see a significant collection of Joseph Walsh's work in the United States, presenting the concepts which he has explored in his work over the last 10 years, realised through the creation of a series of Design Art & Functional Objects.

'Realisations' is open to the public until November 2nd and this will be followed by a private viewing period until November 16th.