Clare O’Connor’s playful paintings and wearable art combine her signature stripes, colour clashes and love of abstract patterns …
Who or what kickstarted your interest in art?
I’ve always really loved art. It was my favourite subject from primary school onwards. I initially studied and worked as a graphic designer. Quickly, I realised that even though it was a practical way to earn a living it just wasn’t creative enough for me, so I went back to study Fine Art in 2006 and haven’t looked back. It has been a passport to the world: I’ve lived and worked in Berlin and Venice, and exhibited in Italy, China, the US and the UK.
Do you have any muses or inspiration?
When I was in college, I was obsessed with two German artists, Albert Oehlen and Charlene Von Heyl. I loved that their work was so vibrant and energetic, especially Oehlen’s large canvases. They both use a lot of colour, and a clash of pattern and paint. They communicated an energy in their paintings that I wanted to be able to express through my work, too. Most recently, I discovered an American figurative painter called Mickalene Thomas, who also uses clashing patterns. I adore her large paintings.
“My paintings are playful, intuitive, energetic and multidimensional. They are vibrant visual labyrinths full of colour, energy, flow and movement.”
How do you define your style?
I developed my abstract style in college. For my graduate exhibition, I created a series of large-scale paintings defined by their clash of stripes, splashed and dripped paint marks and void. I love to juxtapose or layer organic and organised forms, patterns, collage, stripes and thrown paint. That dynamic interplay and balance of form has been a consistent formula in my creative practice.
How did your art evolve into wearable fashion?
While living in Venice in 2015, I started sampling scarves in Como to be able to continue to be an artist and create a stable, sustainable living. From this experiment, I decided to create a brand of wearable art. I initially launched scarves in 2018 and, since then, I have been fine-tuning, expanding and developing my wearable collections. I love that they both feed into and inform each other. To bring continuity and a strong sense of my art across to my brand, I developed a signature stripe across all my collections. I have striped hand-rolled edges and frays, contrast striped reverses, and linings and trims that make them instantly recognisable.
What have been some of your bestsellers?
My signature double-sided Twilly scarves. I launched them six years ago and they are a staple in my collections. They have a striking abstract painting on one side and a contrast stripe on the other, making them really fun and different. They can be either worn as a scarf, a belt or in your hair.
“Residencies give me the space to fully immerse myself in my creative practice, when I throw myself into my paintings and work intensely.”
Where and how do you work?
I live and work from home in Meath, but I regularly go on art residencies. I find them inspiring and liberating; they give me a place to be away from my day-to-day work to solely concentrate on my art practice. Last year, I was in Cill Rialaig, Co Kerry and in the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Co Monaghan. I also won the John Richardson French Residency Award, which was a two-week residency in France with the Hambly & Hambly gallery.
What’s in the pipeline this year?
This spring/summer, I have some exciting new products. I’m launching a sleep set comprising a silk pillowcase, sleep mask and scrunchies. I’m also launching a new collection of dresses and kimonos. I’ve some new designs in my range of shift dresses, including a longer flowing style dress and striking new kimonos.
Need to know: in stockists across Ireland; notably Ashford Castle, The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia and The Clark Art Institute in Massachusetts. Check out her pop-up with Design Ireland X Arnott’s from February to July. www.clareoconnor.net / @clareoconnor_studio
SEE MORE: Artistic License – Glenn Matthews
