'While mainly Dublin based, I currently work out of my studio in Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow. The studio is the gate lodge (‘fairy house’) for Rathvinden House, once the home of the stepson of C.S. Lewis. My glasswork is inspired by a deep passion for modernist art, cubism, geometry and the impact of colour, shape, light and dark on our conscious and unconscious processes. Essentially much of my work reflects my own quest to make sense of things and to communicate from a deeper place.
As with many pieces of abstract art, a number of different concepts and ideas can be cooking away in my psyche for months, even years, before the relationship between them becomes clear, and then translates to a unified picture. The glass pieces try to achieve a sense of balance in colour, texture and design, very much reflecting the challenge of putting the pieces of a life together in a balanced way. The descriptions and titles are not intended to fully explain the pieces, moreso to give some insight into what I was thinking at the time. Hopefully people might also find their own associations or see other things for themselves. My wish is that looking at a piece will provide a 'mindful moment' in the busy market place of life! When I’m not doing glass and other stuff, I work as a clinical psychologist.' Helen O'Connell
