Alice Maher facts for kids

Alice Maher (born in 1956) is a famous Irish artist. She creates amazing art using many different types of materials. Her work includes sculptures, photographs, and art installations.

Alice Maher's Early Life and Learning

Alice Maher was born in a place called Kilmoyler, near Bansha, in County Tipperary. She went to school in Ballydrehid and Cahir when she was young. Later, she studied art at the University of Limerick and the Crawford College of Art in Cork.

In 1985 and 1986, she continued her studies at the University of Ulster in Belfast. She even spent time in the San Francisco Art Institute in 1986 as a Fulbright Scholar. This scholarship helps students study in other countries.

Alice Maher's Art and Style

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

Alice Maher uses many different things to make her art. She often uses materials that are not usually found in art studios. These can be things from nature or everyday life. For example, she has used hair, nettles, bees, and thorns in her artworks.

She likes to explore ideas about growing up and even about death. One of her artworks, Mnemosyne (made in 2003), looks like a bed. It is made from refrigerator coils. When these coils get very cold, they become frosty and shine with a bright white light. Alice Maher is also interested in how people's identities, especially how boys and girls see themselves, are shaped by history and culture.

Art Shows and Exhibitions

Alice Maher's art has been shown in many places. In 2012, a big show of her work called Becoming was held at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA). This exhibition took place in a different location because the main museum was being fixed up.

She also represented Ireland at a very important art event. This was the São Paulo Art Biennial in 1994. It is a big international art festival.

Working with Other Artists

Alice Maher enjoys working with 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 at the Project Arts Centre in 2014.

In 2015, Alice Maher made a film called Cassandra's Necklace. This film was shown at her big exhibition at IMMA. It was based on a story by the Irish writer Anne Enright and featured the actress Charlie Murphy.

More recently, in 2018, Alice Maher worked with the poet Doireann Ní Ghríofa. They created a book together called Nine Silences.

Where to Find Her Art

Alice Maher's artworks are part of many important collections. You can find her pieces in these places:

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