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Working mainly with hot forged steel, sculptor Eamonn Higgins creates both large scale public art and small one-off figurative pieces. Each public commission is finely attuned to its site, exploring the subtleties of relationship binding members of that community. Eamonn’s work is concerned with contrasts and with challenging perceptions of beauty. He is particularly interested in the contrast between the evidence of the fire and physical force involved in the blacksmithing techniques he uses and the elegance of the forms they create.
His first commission, the gateway sculptures for Lincoln South High Street, came directly after graduating from the University of Lincoln with a BA (Honours) in Contemporary and Decorative Crafts specialising in kiln formed glass and metal. Shortly after setting up his studio in Northern Ireland he was commissioned to create a public work celebrating the heritage of the flax industry in his home community, a deeply personal and rewarding project.
As part of an ongoing residency in the South Lough Neagh area, Eamonn is combining blacksmithing and stainless steel fabrication skills to create a work commenting on upheaval in the traditional eel fishing industry. By teaching these skills and artistic techniques to local people he hopes to empower them to create a sculpture as a group.
Meanwhile he has begun to work on small scale figurative sculptures and vessels in stainless steel, copper and brass, enjoying the freedom blacksmithing techniques allow in developing each piece organically.
Recently Eamonn has begun to address a kind of abstracted solidarity in other words the strong but damaged masculine, running alongside this is a play with time and perspective which adds another dimension to emotional context of the work.
Eamonn Higgins
Quick Statement
Creating an austere environment where an arena for self-analysis and
examination of the past take place is essential to Eamonn¹s work. Eamonn
adds curiosities and moments of intrigue into this mix, believing this helps
the viewer understand emotional context of the work by creating inclusions
that they can relate to.
Quick Bio
Working mainly with hot forged steel, sculptor Eamonn Higgins creates both
large scale public art and small one-off figurative pieces. Each public
commission is finely attuned to its site, exploring the subtleties of
relationship binding members of that community
His first commission, the gateway sculptures for Lincoln South High Street,
came directly after graduating from the University of Lincoln with a BA
(Honours) in Contemporary and Decorative Crafts specialising in kiln formed
glass and metal. Shortly after setting up his studio in Northern Ireland he
was commissioned to create a public work celebrating the heritage of the
flax industry in his home community, a deeply personal and rewarding
project.
As part of an ongoing residency in the South Lough Neagh area, Eamonn is
combining blacksmithing and stainless steel fabrication skills to create a
work commenting on upheaval in the traditional eel fishing industry.
Recent Projects include:
Art and the Traveling landscape (Sustrans) South Lough Neagh. (Nr.Ireland)
Prestigious sculptures (as part of an ongoing residency), to be placed in the South Lough Neagh Area celebrating the local cultural traditions. (Commissioned by the Sustainable Transport Network for the Lough Neagh Cycle Trail)
Lincoln South High Street Gateway Sculptures
Funded by Lincoln Community Development Fund, the gateway sculptures were aimed at enhancing a feeling of community in an area regarded by non-residents as ‘rat-run’
James Smith Partnership sculptures (Lincoln)
Commissioned to create a series of sculptures to enhance the exterior of The James Smith Partnership Head Office.
Campions Garage Peugeot (Lincoln)
Commissioned by Peugeot to create a series of sculptures spanning a 30m long wall marking the boundary between their sales area and the High Street.
Sculpture for Glenravel commissioned by GEIA
Sculpture project which led to Cross generational workshops, as part of a residency celebrating the local flax/lint traditions.
Nocton Pinhole Sculptures
Collaboration with a Photographer, to create a sculpture that utilizes Pinhole Photography and stainless steel sculpture. The sculptures will also act as way markers on the local cycle path.
July 2003 – present Formed and Chair ‘MiNE’ Arts cooperative aimed at supporting fresh graduates.
Residencies
July 2006 – October 2006
Lead Artist in a project aimed at celebrating the local past flax/lint industry in the Parish of Glenravel
Jan 2006 - March 2006
Lead Artist in the Lincoln South High Street Sculpture Project; teaching 16
19 year olds basic blacksmithing skills with the aim of helping them create permanent sculptures for their area (The Park Ward of Lincoln)
Forthcoming Residencies/Projects
Present
Artist in Residence in the South Lough Neagh Wetlands (see above)
August – Sept 2007
Lead Artist in Kells nr Ballymena in a project using Art to re-image the community.
Oct 2007
Independent Study based in Hong Kong and onto the Fiji Islands
Nov 2007 to Jan 2008
Independent Study based in the Inca Trail Peru (Also including parts of Chile and Bolivia)
Exhibitions included:
Sept 2003 - Craftisnot… Fine and Applied Arts (Arts Coritani, Swineshead)
Dec 2003 - Craftisnot… Crafts exhibition Lincoln Xmas market (The Drury Lane Gallery, Lincoln)
March 2004 - Collaborations and Fine Art (The Sam Scorer Gallery, Lincoln)
May 2004 - MiNE Applied Art and Crafts (The Sam Scorer Gallery)
July-Dec 2004 – That’s MiNE (Trinity Arts Centre, Sleaford)
Sept 2005 – Contemporary Craft and Fine Art (The Gallery Lincoln)
July 2006 – Art in the Wetlands – Introducing the Work and Artists of the South Lough Neagh Arts Initiative (Discovery Centre, Oxford Island and Millenium Arts Centre Portadown)
Nov 2006 – Untitled London – Throgmortons Gallery Central London
May 2007 – Group Exhibition – The Loft Gallery, Dublin
August 2007 – Group Exhibition (Untitled as Yet) – The Rembrandt Yard, Colorado
Galleries
The Loft Gallery – Lombard Street Dublin
The Stronach Gallery – Connermara Co. Galway
The Rembrandt Yard – Colorado
The Russell Gallery – Co. Clare
Gracehill Gallery - Ballymena
The Sam Scorer Gallery – Lincoln
Trinity Arts Centre – Sleaford
The Hub – Sleaford
Born2bebold - Belfast
Community Art
- Artist Blacksmithing demonstration at Oxford Island Discovery centre.
- Workshops with St. Botolphs Primary School Volunteer art workshops with 7-10 year olds at the Green Café, Lincoln
- South High Street Sculpture Project (see residencies)
- Papermaking workshops with children between the ages of 7-12years, as part of the Lint Residency in Glenravel.
Relevant Academic Qualifications and Awards
Lincoln School of Art (University of Lincoln) (2000-2003)
BA Hons Contemporary and Decorative Crafts, specializing in kiln formed glass and metal
Course Representative 2001-2003
University of Ulster (1999-2000)
BTEQ Foundation Course in Art and Design
Class Representative
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