Irene Rogan’s work, in her exploration of materiality and the metaphysical world, grapples with contradiction. Process, physicality and location are the visible effects of her contending with notions of the human condition and more recently, place. The work often has a theatrical presence that acts to gain the attention of the audience to view not just the transforming power in progress but the transformation that has obviously taken place and is a metaphor for the ‘divided self’ in lived experience and spiritual immanence.
Irene Rogan’s work, in her exploration of materiality and the metaphysical world, grapples with contradiction. Process, physicality and location are the visible effects of her contending with notions of the human condition and more recently, place. The work often has a theatrical presence that acts to gain the attention of the audience to view not just the transforming power in progress but the transformation that has obviously taken place and is a metaphor for the ‘divided self’ in lived experience and spiritual immanence.
An increasingly multidisciplinary practice incorporates scientific knowledge, microscopy and ecology, social activism, environmental art, documentary photography, drawing and site performance.
EDUCATION
1987-88 Foundation Cumbria College of Art & Design Carlisle, UK
1988-91 B A (Hons) Fine Art, Nottingham Trent University, UK
RECENT EXHHIBITIONS AND EVENTS
2021 Being and Dwelling, St Michaels Church, Hawkshead
2021 Unpublished Tour Millom, Haverigg and Duddon estuary
2020-21 ReDrift West coast of Cumbria
2019 – 2020 Between Silence and Light, Millom and villages
2018 – 19 Moving Mountains environmental art ‘the making of a cultural landscape’ a programme of art collaborations between Irene Rogan and local and regional artists, the local and agricultural community in Millom Cumbria, UK; short film, music and composition, environmental art, photography, poetry, video and artist talks.
2017 FINDING CUBA Research Centre for Cuban Studies, University of Nottingham, Cuban collaborative project UK paintings, photography and video.
2017 Arcane Tender, Havana, Cuba - Artist’s International Development Fund, Arts Council of England and The British Council: research for exchange project, networking Cuban art and culture.
2017 Nottingham Light Night, city-wide event, Hologram of a diatom and text, Innovation and Development programme, working with Nottingham Trent University, UK
2016 Living Dock residency and ‘Precious’ exhibition at the GSML, Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory Panacea, Florida, USA
2015 ‘Luotaamaton alue’ ( The Unsurveyed Area) part I and II - international artists visiting the archipelago; Reksaari, Nurmes and Kuuskajaskari islands, Finland Nurmes Island, Finland solo art exhibition, environmental works, photography, poetry and mapping.
2015 Morphogenesis, the Settlement community centre, Maryport, Cumbria
2015 Art, science and environment workshops Framework Charity for vulnerable and homeless adults, The Burrow, Nottingham, UK
2015 Mikrokosmos, Art science and Environment, RaumArs Residency Programme, Rauma, Finland
2014 - 15 Collaboration Future Factory team, 3D printing, microbiology, Nottingham Trent University, UK
2014 Urban Grace, Research and production located on city centre industrial site, The Island, Nottingham
2014 Allegory of Faith, a permanent exhibition at Christchurch Heritage Centre, in Jerusalem, and Beit Emmanual Jaffa, Israel
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS, COMMISSIONS, RESEARCH AND EVENTS
2013 BLOOM Eco-Art and Science schools project, University of Aberdeen, Natural History Centre
2012-13 River Don AIR Public Art Development Scheme, Aberdeen City Council, in collaboration with SURF Aberdeen (Sustainable Urban Fringes – an Interreg North Sea Programme), Scotland, UK
2013 EAFS 13 Environmental Arts Festival selected to participate in ‘The Archivist’ a collaboration between Robbie Colman and Jo Hodges, Dumfries and Galloway Scotland
2012 Light Night Nottingham City Council - HEART light sculpture commission and public engagement collaborating with SEND arts organisation and Greenway Centre community arts, Nottingham, UK
2012 The Games People Play, the Atrium, ICCA Centre - Nottingham, Quad - Derby, and Embrace Arts – Leicester UK. Curated by Paul Matosic
2011 & 12 ‘Process’, Burghley House, Burghley Park Stamford, Lincolnshire UK - sculpture exhibition
2010 Body in Pieces - Sideshow 2010 curator/exhibitor supporting The British Art Show 7, Nottingham UK
2010 ‘The Year We Made Contact’, SETI and AD 2001 group exhibition, Exchange Walk, Nottingham UK
2010 REUNION Oldknows Factory, 'For Realism' installation. Nottingham UK ‘
2010 Head Heart Hand 'Primordium' Harold Martin Botanic Gardens University of Leicester, UK
2009 Celebration of British Sculpture, International Artist’s exhibition - 'Ray' University of Leicester UK
2008 VITAL, Solo exhibition of mixed media paintings Tobacco Factory, Bristol, England. UK
2008 Influence group exhibition Chapel Gallery, Bath, UK
2007 ‘A Breath of Fresh Air’ RAY 1', residency and exhibition Finzean, Aberdeenshire, Scotland UK.
2006 Liverpool Independents Biennial - ‘Passion’ The Projection Gallery film ‘The Unknown Image’16m b/w short film writer/director /co-Producer, Liverpool, UK
2006 Sunday Shorts; A feast of film ‘unknown image ‘Drama Theatre, Plymouth UK
2006 Plymouth Exchange PEX06 Film Festival, ‘Unknown Image’ writer/ producer/ director Mass, USA
2002 WYRED Wales UK - project manager and exhibitor Touring mobile cinema, screening short films by award-winning new directors from Wales, transforming community facilities and public spaces into a film theatre in villages without cinemas - South to Mid Wales, Wales the UK
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS & RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
2011 p.ART 2011, Group Painting Exhibition, Pankow, Charlottenburg, Berlin
2009 Images, Árvore Gallery, Centro De Actividades Artisticas, Portugal
2008 Dams Research, (Arts Council England) Three Gorges Dam, Yichang, China,
2009 IMAGES - Exposição Galeria de imagens, Ávore Cooperativa De Actividades Artísticas CRL, Oporto,
2006 Exchange PEX06 Film Festival, selected ‘Unknown Image’ writer/ producer/ director, Plymouth, USA
2005 Holland Art Fair paintings exhibition The Hague, Holland
2004 & 05 Galeria de Gaudi, paintings exhibition, Madrid, Spain
2003 Utopien, Visionen, Lebenswelten,’ He that plows’ installation, international art event: sculpture, Installation, music, literature, poetry & theatre KiC NordArt nr Hamburg, Germany
AWARDS / GRANTS
2022 CGP /Millom Town Council community grant
2021 Cumbria Wildlife Trusts Dynamic Dunescapes, Haverigg Cumbria
2021 Art Council England Unpublished Tour, Millom, Cumbria
2020 Art Council England ReDrift, West Cumbria
2019 Arts Council England Grants for Arts Between Silence and Light, Millom Cumbria
2018 Arts Council England Grants for Arts - The Making of a Cultural Landscape, Millom Cumbria
2017 Arts Council England and The British Council Artists International Development Fund- travel research, Arcane Tender, Cuba
2016 Nottingham Trent University Enabling and Innovation programme development of a hologram
2015 Arts Council England Grant for Arts Morphogenesis with RaumArs Residency Programme, Finland
2015 RaumArs Residency Funded Programme, Finland
2014 Nottingham Trent University Future Factory grant for 3D printing design development
2008 Arts Council of England Outward Mission to China Arts Council England Project for six artists to travel to Chongqing and for a self-directed research project on hydroelectric dams, the Three Gorges Dam, China
2005 Arts & Business Wales, Winner Arts & Business Award with Archie Landrail, Chepstow, Wales UK
2005 Project Funding Pontypool Council - Film and projection event, Torfaen, Wales UK
2004 Artworks Wales Cywaith Cymru residency grant ‘Artist at Work’ with Architen Landrell Ltd Wales UK
2004 Wales Arts International, travel grant Kic Nordart, Hamburg, Germany
2002 Arts Council Wales grant for Wyred short film touring cinema, Wales
2002 Monmouthshire County Council, Wales grant for Wyred touring short films in villages project, Wales
1999 Arts Council England, film grant for Unknown Image 16mm b/w short writer, producer, director
1996 Pollack Krasner Foundation, Grant, New York USA
PUBLIC REALM
2008 - 2012 Lead Artist - £44m build Riverside Centre JSC, Nottingham City Council, Laing O Rourke, recommendations for an arts programme ‘Art at the Heart’, permanent and temporary commissions ‘ Nottingham, UK
2012 OPUN, East Midlands Architecture Centre - Design Review Panel Member
2011 Big Bright Night, Rochdale Lead Artist for Oldham Rochdale Housing Market Renewal sculpture and lighting commission Kirkholt Estate, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, UK
2011 Lead Artist Oldham Rochdale Housing Market Renewal Sculptural earthworks and arts programming proposing artists, themes, including biodiversity projects for Kirkholt Estate, Rochdale UK
2009-2010 Chettles Yard gateway sculpture commission. With Lewis Hickey Architects, OPAL Properties in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, UK
2010 SoundWave Ltd, Sculpture Commission working with musicians, writers Workington, Cumbria UK
2009 Artist Turnstone Estates, Chelmsford Borough Council, Essex County Council Celestial Fix’ Sculpture Commission for a new hotel, residential accommodation and commercial premises, with SMC Covell Matthews Architects , e2v space imaging company, Chelmsford High School students, Canada France Hawaii Telescope, Hawaii, USA
2009 - Artist in Residence, Arnold Health Centre, with CPMG Architects, toward designs for embedded exterior and interior artworks, Nottingham UK
2008 Consultant Artist Bournemouth Borough Council identifying locations and art budgets for artwork community library. Working with Architect and design team
2007 Consultant Artist for Bournemouth Borough Council, regeneration scheme recommendations for art interventions for Boscombe Spa Village, Bournemouth, UK
2006 - Art Consultant Nottingham City Council, Urban Lighting Vision: The delivery of a creative led sustainable lighting strategy for Nottingham City, UK?
2004-2006 Ipswich Shared Space, public artist with landscape architects and urban designers Sheils Flynn Ltd, Suffolk County Council, Suffolk, UK
