Kilkenny opencall 2018

in association with

kilkennyshop.com/opencall

Kilkenny presents the winners of Open Call; a
nationwide search for craft and design talent.
This showcase celebrates the extraordinary work
of 5 Irish-based artists, craftspeople and designers:
Eoin O’Connor, Sam agus Nessa, Helen Faulkner
Ceramics, Wild Oats and Yvonne Ryan, who
each earned their place at Kilkenny following a
rigorous adjudication process in conjunction with
the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI).
in association with

EOIN O’CONNOR
Eoin O’Connor is an artist who lives and works in
Aughrim, County Wicklow. His highly sought-after
pieces are included amongst leading business and
private collections both at home and abroad.
Eoin’s palette is dominated by strong powerful
tones that are rich in contrast. He finds his motifs in
the immediate surroundings of his native Ireland,
the landscapes, the sea, the farmsteads and its
many characters. Before painting Eoin had a
background in Architecture which explains his
assured drawing style that forms the basis for his
compositions.
Eoin’s success in
Open Call sees
him return to
Kilkenny after
3 years off the
shelves.

SAM AGUS NESSA
Sam agus Nessa is a furniture and product design
company based in county Kildare, Ireland. The
brand is led by creative couple Sam and Nessa
who design and make contemporary, functional
furniture and homewares utilising locally sourced,
Irish materials.
Moving home from busy London, they are
inspired by the Irish vernacular and observing the
world around them. Each piece is made by hand
individually in their workshop and is designed to
be practical but most importantly to make people
smile.

HELEN FAULKNER CERAMICS
Originally from Belfast, Helen Faulkner founded
her ceramics brand over six years ago. Her
handmade bright tableware is equally about form
and function. Inspired by her love of food and
how it brings people together, Helen
uses terracotta clay thrown on the
wheel to make pots that feel
good in the hand.
Helen lives by the value
that good design takes
time to make and
individually hand crafts
each piece in her studio
in Northern Ireland.

WILD OATS
Wild Oats was founded over 3 years ago in Lismore,
County Waterford by Deirdre Meany & Karen Cottier.
Inspired by the simplicity of natural soap and the
purity of clean scent, Wild Oats aims to create bathing
products that indulge the senses as well as the skin.
Using the soothing properties of natural oats, the
brand uses Flahavan’s Organic Oats for all their soaps
and bath milks made locally in Waterford.
The Wild Oats mission is to bring you the best of
natural luxuries to help you create a new daily ritual.

YVONNE RYAN
Yvonne Ryan is an Irish Jewellery designer making
unique and beautiful pieces for people who
appreciate something with a little difference. The
Dublin based jewelers’ designs are hand-crafted
using silver, gold and diamonds.
Her pieces are contemporary with a hint of classical.
Every piece is wearable and can be layered and are
reminiscent of mini-sculptures
that move with the wearer.
Yvonne reuses silver and waste
is recycled and re-melted where
possible in her
Ballsbridge studio.

Eoin O’Connor
Sam agus Nessa
Helen Faulkner Ceramics
Wild Oats
Yvonne Ryan
From January 15 th to March 2 nd
Visit our new collections in-store at the
Kilkenny shop, Nassau Street, Dublin
kilkennyshop.com/opencall

in association with