Curated by Carissa Farrell
At the Heart of Chance showcased a body of paintings by Orla Whelan which she began making during her period as artist in residence at Draíocht from January to June 2008. The figure is a central motif in these elegant works which celebrate love, connection, touch, intimacy and the awkward and vulnerable presence of the human form. These distilled images present the body in a tasteful, honest and gentle manner, and demonstrate Whelan’s sensitive and understated painting style.
Orla Whelan has an MA in Visual Arts Practices from IADT, Dublin (2007), MA European Fine Art from Winchester School of Art, Barcelona (2001) and BA Fine Art Painting from National College of Art & Design, Dublin (1997). She has had numerous solo and group exhibitions, and received awards and residencies both in Ireland and abroad.