'RISK/ REWARD,　Limerick Printmakers at 25'　explores the importance of, and power in cultivating resilience as an individual and an artist, while acknowledging the challenges of maintaining this quality in an ever more complex world.

Creative resilience allows artists and creators to simultaneously ‘trust the process’ and trust themselves as they navigate periods of experimentation within their work, becoming emboldened by exploring risk through problem solving, and deciding what defines their own metrics of failure and success when creating art. For the vast majority of creators, there is an inextricable link between their artwork and how it is perceived and received, & how they view themselves.

The cultural mind-set surrounding the concept of failure has shifted in recent years, away from the notion that it is a permanent state, or dead end on the route to progression, instead reframing setbacks as an essential catalyst to growth, learning and innovation.
Thought leaders across diverse fields including the arts, sports, and the tech industry have reinforced this transformation in how failure is perceived. Without developing resilience, every detour, setback,　or diversion spells failure – immutable and permanent.

Maintaining an artistic practice can in itself be an act of resilience, and one that has been considered by many artists within their work, from the writer Samuel Beckett’s five iterations of ‘Fail Better’ throughout ‘Worstward Ho’, to the　artist, curator and cultural activist　Lubaina Himid's　belief that　'you can’t succeed at a work of art unless you dance with failure.'

RISK/ REWARD features a selection of entirely new work from　diverse　printmakers working within an array of techniques, united by deep engagement within their practice.
Selected for inclusion by printmaker Sioban Piercy &　Kim Willoughby, Managing Director of Damn Fine Print are Dietrich Blodau,　Dylan Buckley,　Ugljesa Buzakovic,　Anne-Marie Flannery,　Caoilfhinn Geary,　Lara Grufferty, Joe Lane, Nicola Long,　Kate MacDonald,　Des MacMahon,　Ultan McAvinue,　Tony O' Loughlin,　 Suzannah O' Reilly,　Fiona Quill, Rowena Quill,　Clodagh Twomey, &　Isabella Walsh;　with collaborations from　Pamela Dunne & Melissa O' Brien,　Dylan Ryan & Laura O' Loughlin, &　Verona Stellet & Carol Kennedy.

A celebration of risk, of experimentation, of discomfort, of resilience, of progress & evolution, of recognising the unseen failures that are integral to the ultimate successes is a fitting tribute to printmaking, to Limerick Printmakers 25 year history, and to the exciting, visionary work of its cohort of studio members.

Limerick Printmakers gratefully　acknowledges additional　support from Limerick Arts Office in bringing the　RISK/ REWARD exhibition　& portfolio to fruition.

Queries to artgallery@limerick.ie