Talented Laois artist takes her inspiration from the natural world
Artist Nadia Rice pictured at the launch of her first solo art exhibition i Photos: Stan Henderson
CORK-BASED artist Nadia Rice returned to her Slieve Bloom roots for her first solo art exhibition in the Gallery of Divine Inspiration at Bloom HQ in Mountrath.
Nadia’s artwork is inspired by the natural world and she primarily works with ink pens. The talented artist has recently expanded her practice to include print-making techniques such as lino print, screen printing and etching. Her exhibition showcases a collection of work from her studio practice and explores a diverse range of techniques of nature-inspired subjects.
Although this is Nadia’s first solo shwocase, she has previously contributed to other group exhibitions. In May 2023, Nadia and her mother Heather Rice, a photographer who specialises in the macro-photography of nature, held a joint exhibition of photographs and pen-ink drawings in the art gallery in Mountmellick Library, where Nadia recreated her mum’s photos in pen-ink drawings.
Speaking to the ***Laois Nationalist*** at the launch of her exhibition, Nadia said that she and her siblings were homeschooled. When she was 17, she completed the art, craft and design course in Abbeyleix Further Education Centre. Then at 18 she moved to Cork and attended MTU Crawford College of Art and Design for another year. Since then, Nadia has been busy doing studio work, commission work and digital maps, while she also teaches art.
Speaking about her exhibition, Nadia said: “It is a collection of a ton of different work and different mediums. They are all of nature and come from a body of work that I had in my studio which I thought would work well together. They include lino print, etchings with colours, and over the last couple of years I have been doing a lot more printmaking, which I really loving doing. Lots of the pieces are scenes from places in Glengarriff in West Cork and from around my home area in the wonderful Slieve Bloom Mountains.” Nadia added that she loves to sketch at scenic landscape locations and she also takes photographs to later work from in her Cork city studio.
The Gallery of Divine Inspiration is curated by artist Kevin McCann, who has now put together 18 consecutive monthly art exhibitions promoting local and upcoming artists.
Speaking about Nadia’s exhibition, Kevin said: “Nadia is an exceptional talent. The amount of detail in her work is unbelievable and very professional. She has a great fondness for nature and its minute details, which you can see in the works. To top it off, she's also a very nice person and she is easy to work with.” Nadia wishes to thank everyone who supported her.
The exhibition is on display in Bloom HQ until the end of March.
For more information, check out Nadia Rice Artist on Facebook, @nadiariceartist on Instagram, or email nadiatranquilityrice@gmail.com.
