Artist Biography

Olivia Jones is an Irish artist, living along the west coast of Ireland in Co. Sligo.  From an early age Olivia was influenced by form and structure as she explored materials in her father’s wood workshop. This inspired her to follow a career in design, and after graduating with a BA(Hons) in Interior Architecture & Design from Sligo ATU, she worked for several years in design offices in Ireland, Europe and Australia, including the stage design department in the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, Brussels.

Following a career in architecture, Olivia pivoted to a role in environmental engagement.  This unique combination of experiences can be seen in her work, often showing natural and organic shapes restrained with architectural elements.

Olivia’s work has been exhibited nationally and in the UK. Her paintings are also held in both private and corporate collections.

Artist Statement

I am very drawn to liminal spaces and abandoned buildings, as a result, pathways, thresholds, and empty buildings feature heavily in my work. For me these spaces portray moments suspended between the past and future, capturing the tension between the comfort of the familiar and the uncertainty of the unknown.

Although my process is strongly influenced by my architectural skillset, I typically start with underpaintings that are abstract and intuitive, creating interlacing brightly coloured fluid shapes with penwork to give a sense of movement. These layers are then reduced by overlaying opaque and translucent hardedge planes guided by point perspective lines.

I increasingly incorporate reclaimed materials into my practice, using them as both substrates and sculptural components. This sustainable approach allows me to explore the aesthetics of dereliction and the life of objects suspended between their past utility and an uncertain future.