In August 2026, I presented Baile, my first solo exhibition, at Tallaght Library in Dublin. For me, the exhibition marked an important point in my artistic journey. It also gave me space to bring several parts of my practice together.
The Irish word baile can refer to home, town, or settlement. Therefore, the title allowed me to think about what home means beyond a physical address. For someone shaped by migration and different cultural experiences, home can feel personal, shifting, and deeply connected to memory.
Throughout Baile, I brought together works that reflect my interest in identity, memory, dreams, folklore, and everyday symbols. At the same time, my work often transforms familiar forms into something less certain. A body can suggest a landscape, while a house can become part of a person’s inner world.
The exhibition also reflected my wider approach to making art. I work across drawing, painting, mixed media, and other forms, so each piece can develop in its own way. However, the works still connect through recurring ideas about belonging, transformation, and the spaces we carry with us.
Most importantly, Baile represented a personal milestone. I have spent years developing my practice independently, showing work in group exhibitions, and building a body of work across different mediums. Finally, having a space dedicated to my work changed the experience completely.
Rather than presenting one fixed answer about home, Baile leaves room for questions. What makes somewhere feel like home? Can home exist inside us? And can art give shape to something we cannot easily explain?
For me, Baile became more than a first solo exhibition. It became a moment to look at where I have been, where I am, and what I am still becoming.
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Happy inking! 🎀