Two solo exhibitions opening at Solas Art Gallery

Solas Art Gallery will unveil two solo exhibitions on Friday, September 5th, at 7.30pm in the Island Theatre, Ballinamore, showcasing the distinctive work of artists Senga Sharkey and Sylvia Thirlway.

Senga Sharkey, from Co. Fermanagh, presents Somewhere Between Two Extremes, an exploration of the space between abstraction and the familiar. Using textured collage, acrylics, and mixed media, she transforms memories and imagination into layered visual stories. Often leaving her narratives deliberately incomplete, Sharkey invites viewers to bring their own experiences to the work. “I primarily aim for an emotional response from viewers, who can project their own feelings and make what they will of my work,” she explained.

Alongside her, artist and poet Sylvia Thirlway unveils Elemental Spaces, a body of work reflecting her passion for the natural world. Having returned to painting after a long break, Thirlway now works primarily in oils on wood panels and canvas boards. Her paintings, inspired by the planet’s fragility and fading biodiversity, seek to remind audiences of the land’s former vitality. As Thirlway writes: “Once a beautiful bountiful land of diversity and vitality / Cradling us like healing hands, though facing now a new fragility.”

The exhibitions will be officially opened by award-winning poet, short story writer, filmmaker, and contemporary artist Teresa Godfrey. Guests can expect an evening that combines visual art with storytelling, poetry, and creative expression. Refreshments will be served. Both exhibitions run until October 3rd.

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