Kilkenny artist showcases her work at graduate exhibition
A Kilkenny artist featured in the MTU Arts Office Environmental Award Exhibition ’26 at the James Barry Exhibition Centre, Munster Technological University (MTU) in Cork.
Chieu Phelan from Ballyragget studied Visual Communications at MTU and her work on display at the exhibition, Ar Scáth a Cheile| In Each Other's SHADOW is a series of personal reflections on the themes of identity, family and childhood through the lens of adoption.
MTU Arts Office’s annual graduate award exhibition is focusing on the environment and the exhibition title comes from an old Irish saying “Ar scáth a chéile a mhairimid”, which can be translated as “In the shadow of each other we live”.
Taking a broad view on what constitutes our environment, the exhibition aims to discuss the shadows we cast and the shadows we live with, the impacts our decisions have on each other, our relationship with the wider natural world, and our responsibilities as inhabitants of that world. The exhibition centres on the themes and practices of the selected artists, inviting engagement and conversation
This is the fifth Ar Scáth A Chéile Award Exhibition and presents works from MTU Crawford College of Art & Design 2025 BA Hons. Degree graduates - Aoife Claffey, Fine Art; Katie Drago,Fine Art; Megan Foley, Contemporary Applied Arts; Sian Foley, Contemporary Applied Arts; Billy Adele O'Regan, Fine Art; and Chieu Phelan, Visual Communications.
The exhibition runs at the James Barry Exhibition Centre, Munster Technological University (MTU) in Cork until February 24.