Alanna O'Kelly facts for kids

Alanna O'Kelly (born 1955) is a famous Irish artist. She creates many different types of art. This includes performance art (where the artist uses their body and actions as the art) and installation art (where art is set up in a space for people to walk through). She also works with sculpture, song, land art, and film. Alanna O'Kelly is a member of Aosdána, which is a special group for top Irish artists.

About Alanna O'Kelly

Alanna O'Kelly was born in Gorey, Ireland, in 1955. She studied art at several colleges. These included the Regional Technical College Galway, the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, and the Slade School of Fine Art in London.

Her Artworks

One of her important works from 1990 is called The Country Bloom, A Garden and a Grave. This artwork explored the history of Achill Island in Ireland. It told stories of sadness and memories from the Irish Potato Famine. The Irish Times newspaper even chose it as one of the "Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks." This shows how important her work is.

In 1996, Alanna O'Kelly represented Ireland at a big art show. It was called the São Paulo Art Biennial. She was also chosen to join Aosdána that same year.

A Special Performance

In 2008, she gave a very special performance. She sang a traditional Irish "keen" at a "funeral" for an artist named Patrick Ireland. A "keen" is a sad, wailing song often sung at funerals in Ireland long ago. People were very impressed by her performance. One magazine said her singing was "wordless and tore right down to your root." They called it one of the most amazing things they had ever heard.

Aosdána says that Alanna O'Kelly's art looks at how our shared history affects us. Her work also explores how old traditions continue into modern times.

Where to See Her Work

You can find her artworks in important places. These include the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Ireland. Her work is also at Ireland's Great Hunger Museum in Connecticut, USA.