Artist statement

Susan Mannion's artistic practice, which bridges archaeology, folklore, and the Irish landscape is deeply engaged with memory, material, and the traces we leave behind. Trained as an archaeologist and curator, she views the land not just as a visual subject, but as a repository of memory and history. Susan’s practice bridges the gap between traditional historic artforms and contemporary art, focusing primarily on the medium of copper and steel enamelling. Susan is drawn to the technical rigour this discipline requires and the transformative power of the kiln. 

Susan’s background in medieval architecture and art informs the integrity of her compositions, while her time spent in Japan studying printmaking has refined Susan’s approach to colour and space. Ultimately, her work serves as a quiet meditation on place, aiming to evoke the stillness and timelessness of the rural environment through a lens of contemporary artforms.

Biography

Susan Mannion is a full-time Irish visual artist specialising in printmaking and enamelling. Her work is abstracted from and influenced by her emotional connection to the environment. Susan’s work has been exhibited in 16 solo and a number of group exhibitions, most notably at the Royal Academies of Art in London, Dublin, Belfast and Scotland and internationally in Japan, Bulgaria, Russia, Poland, USA, Sweden and Canada. Her work is held in private, public,  national and international collections. Susan has won commissions and she was awarded the Merrion Plinth Award 2022 and Print Network Ireland residency at Centre Culturel Irlandais. Susan travelled to Japan to receive a prestigious award from the Japan Enamel Artists Association. Susan has been awarded national and international art residencies. Susan attained BSc, MSSc, PhD; and a number of certificates and diplomas.