From Roscommon to the Tate Modern and back for Strokestown artist

Little did Siobhan Cox Carlos think when she randomly went to an evening class in painting back in the ’80’s that it would become her passion and give her a life full of amazing opportunities.

Now the Strokestown woman has made a real name for herself in the art world.

Siobhan studied at GMIT and Limerick College of Art & Design where she was awarded an honours degree in Fine Art in 2004.

Since then she has shown her work in solo and group shows both here in Ireland and in America and Europe. She has had her work hung alongside some of the greatest artists such as Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol (in Fort Lauderdale, FL.) and George Braque (Miami). She is represented in the North of Ireland by Hambly and Hambly where she was a finalist in the first John Richard French Residency Award two years ago.

Siobhan shows her work regularly here in Ireland and this year alone she has shown in Cuige Studios, Mullingar, Boyle Arts Festival, BallaghDREAM, King House on Culture Night and is now prepaAring for Art Source, the national Arts Fair of Ireland which is held in the RDS. in Dublin.

Roscommon County Council and the Local Enterprise Office have been “a fantastic support” to her over the years. “This is an imperative support for any artist trying to make a living from their arts practice, in particular, in the countryside in Ireland which can be very isolating,” said Siobhan.

Siobhan, along with two other women, last year, set up an international art group with women from America, Australia, Italy, England and Ireland. They launched their group ‘Global ARTelier21’ online last year and had their first in person group show in The YAH Factory Milan last May. This was a huge success, so much so that the exhibition toured to its sister gallery on the French border. They are planning another group show for next year.

One of the highlights of her career was giving a talk on colour, a key element in her work, in the Tate Modern. This soapbox event is peer led and requires the speaker to liaise with staff in The Tate to set up a presentation showing a number of works that are on display as examples for back up the talk. This was really a huge challenge but one that one which the artist relished. She was invited to give this talk in BallaghDREAM as part of the opening of this inaugural festival and did so to a full house last August.

Over the past two years she has had many Artist in Residencies in schools throughout Roscommon and Longford where she decided to concentrate on murals, which gives her the opportunity to work on a large scale, which she so enjoys. Working with the teachers and students has been particularly rewarding as she gets an opportunity to inspire and encourage many students (and maybe even a few teachers!) to be more creative.

Siobhan will have work hanging in Aras an Chontae, the council buildings in Roscommon, in the coming weeks. She will be exhibiting her newest works, three portraits of famous Roscommon figures, which were shown first in King House in Boyle on Culture Night. She is also taking this opportunity in the foyer of the council buildings to hang some work from past collections. These will all be available for sale at a reduced price and a good investment for anyone looking to add to their art collection, start one or to give as a gift.

Siobhan has some tickets available for Art Source, which takes place from November 10th to 12th. Just email her at siobhancoxcarlos@gmail.com if you would like to attend.