Alice Maher facts for kids

Alice Maher RHA (born in 1956) is a famous Irish artist. She creates art using many different things. These include sculptures, photos, and special art setups called installations.

Where Did Alice Maher Study Art?

Alice Maher was born in Kilmoyler, a place in County Tipperary, Ireland. She went to school there when she was young. Later, she studied art at the Crawford College of Art in Cork. She also earned a master's degree from the University of Ulster in Belfast. In 1986, she even got to study at the San Francisco Art Institute in the United States. This was thanks to a special scholarship called a Fulbright Scholarship.

What Kind of Art Does Alice Maher Make?

The Axe (and the Waving Girl) by Alice Maher, 2003

Alice Maher uses many different materials in her art. She often uses things you might find in nature or around the house. These can include hair, nettles, bees, and thorns. She explores ideas about childhood and life. For example, in her artwork Mnemosyne (2003), she made a bed-like shape. It was built from refrigerator coils that became shiny white when frosty. She is interested in how people's identities are shaped by history and culture.

Alice Maher's Art Shows

In 2012, a big show of Alice Maher's art was held at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA). It was called Becoming. The exhibition took place in a different location because the museum was being renovated. Alice Maher also represented Ireland at a big international art event. This was the São Paulo Art Biennial in Brazil in 1994.

Working with Other Artists

Alice Maher has worked with many artists from different fields. Since 1999, she has worked with the composer Trevor Knight. He creates music for her animated videos. Visitant was a live show that combined dance, music, and visual art. Alice Maher worked on this with Trevor Knight, the Butoh dancer Gyohei Zaitsu, and musician Áine O'Dwyer. Visitant was performed in 2014. Her film Cassandra's Necklace was made for her art show at IMMA in 2015. It was based on a story by Irish writer Anne Enright. The actress Charlie Murphy was in the film. In 2018, Alice Maher worked with the poet Doireann Ní Ghríofa. They created a book together called Nine Silences.

Where to Find Her Art

You can find Alice Maher's artworks in several important collections:

• Berry Dress, 1994, is at The Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin.
• The Arts Council of Ireland owns some of her pieces, including:
  • Nettle Coat (1996)
• The Crawford Gallery in Cork has her art, including:
  • Irish Dancers (1992)
• Fairytale Wall (2002) is at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.