About
Aoife Bambury is an Irish visual artist and sculptor based in Kildare. Her work explores the complex relationship between humanity and nature, focusing on environmental consequences. Aoife likes to interweave natural forms with human-made elements in her sculptures and digitally rendered prints, creating a dialogue between the organic and artificial. Her sculptures combine direct mouldings of natural elements with invented, organic-seeming forms, while her prints incorporate overlaid and digitally manipulated images derived from her direct observations of the natural world. This blurring reflects her response to our unsustainable coexistence with the planet.
Press:
Aoife's work was featured in an article by Penny McCormick this year entitled- '15 Irish Sculptors To Know Now'
https://thegloss.ie/discover-irish-sculptors-contemporary-sculpture-artists/
Press:
Aoife's work was featured in an article by Penny McCormick this year entitled- '15 Irish Sculptors To Know Now'
https://thegloss.ie/discover-irish-sculptors-contemporary-sculpture-artists/
Education
- N.C.A.D. National College of Art & Design- Post Graduate Dip. in Community Arts Education, 2011-2012.
- C.I.T. Crawford College of Art- Arts Participation & Development, 2010-2011
Awards/Recognition/Exhibitions
- RHA Annual Exhibition-Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, 2025 (2 works selected for RHA 2025 Exhibition opening May 2025).
- December 2023- Mason Hayes & Curran Annual Exhibition 2023 https://www.mhc.ie/latest/events/annual-art-exhibition-2
- Sculpture in Context 2023- winner of 'Sculpture of Distinction' Millcove Award https://sculptureincontext.ie/
- RUA Annual Exhibition- Royal Ulster Academy, Belfast, Northern Ireland 2023 - https://www.royalulsteracademy.org/
- RHA Annual Exhibition-Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, 2023- https://rhagallery.ie/events/exhibitions/193rd-rha-annual-exhibition/
- Business to Arts-Catalyst Strategy 2023-2028 -Cover image design https://www.businesstoarts.ie/about-us/our-strategy https://www.businesstoarts.ie/content/files/Business_to_Arts_Catalyst_Strategy_2023_2028.pdf?v=1689669589
- Bloom 2024, 2022, 2023 with The Kildare Gallery https://thekildaregallery.ie/bloom-2023/
- RUA Annual Exhibition- Royal Ulster Academy, Belfast, Northern Ireland 2023, 2022, 2021 - www.royalulsteracademy.org/annual-exhibition
- Mart Gallery, Dublin 2022-solo exhibition https://mart.ie/portfolio-item/lucid-aoife-bambury/ www.aoifebambury.com/lucid-exhibition.html
- Montenotte Summer Show with The Kildare Gallery, 2024, 2022 www.themontenottehotel.com/en/sculpture/
- Arts Council of Northern Ireland- acquisition 2021 www.artscouncil-ni.org/
- RUA- Royal Ulster Academy, Belfast, Northern Ireland 2021 - www.royalulsteracademy.org/annual-exhibition
- Saatchi Art profile www.saatchiart.com/aoifebambury
- Kilkenny Art Gallery- Summer Exhibition 2021 https://thekilkennyartgallery.com/
- CIACLA-Contemporary Irish Arts Centre Los Angeles 2020- ciacla.com/online-program/
- RUA- Royal Ulster Academy, Belfast, Northern Ireland 2020- www.royalulsteracademy.org/annual-exhibition https://www.artshow.at/royalulsteracademy/index.htm?skip-loading#media-index=46&focus-overlay-name=AoifeBambury
- Sculpture In Context, Dublin, Ireland 2020 http://www.sculptureincontext.com/
- N.C.A.D. National College of Art & Design 2019- Bronze Art Sculpture Award winner, C.E.A.D. 2019
- Sculpture in Context, Dublin, Ireland 2014.
- Irish Sculpture Awards - Millcove Gallery 2013.
- R.D.S. Craft Awards, Dublin. Shortlisted 2012 & 2013.
Artist Statement
As a contemporary visual artist and sculptor, I am dedicated to exploring the complex relationship between humans and the natural world, with a particular focus on the impact of human actions on the environment.
In my practice, I incorporate elements of nature and features of human-made, utilitarian objects into my sculptures, blurring the boundaries between the natural and artificial worlds. Through this, I aim to convey a reactionary response to our inability to coexist peacefully with the planet that sustains us.
My sculptures are informed by my photographic prints, which inspire the shapes and undulations of my pieces. I use contrasting patinas and high-gloss finishes on bronze, while also experimenting with new, lower-carbon footprint mediums such as jesmonite.
I am based in Kildare but still have very close ties with my home county of Kerry. I studied at post-graduate level at N.C.A.D. and at Crawford College, CIT, Cork, and learned bronze casting techniques during extended study periods in Burkina Faso, West Africa. I collaborate with Bronze Art Foundry in Dublin 3 to cast and finish my sculptures.
My work is in both private and public collections and has been featured in several group shows, including The Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA), Sculpture in Context, CIACLA, and The Royal Ulster Academy. In July 2022, I had my first solo show at MART Gallery, 2022 (www.mart.ie), and I am currently represented by The Kildare Gallery (www.kildaregallery.com).
