Bewick Art Collection

President McAleese unveils permanent exhibit donated by renowned artist Pauline Bewick in WIT's Walton Building

Since November 2006, Waterford Institute of Technology has been playing permanent host to Pauline Bewick’s Waterford Collection; paintings, sculptures, tapestries, sketches and wall hangings from her renowned Seven Ages Collection.

The eclectic exhibition of almost 300 pieces of art was unveiled on 14 November 2006 by President Mary McAleese. Ms Bewick donated the collection to the State with the proviso that it be permanently exhibited in Waterford where she has chosen WIT’s recently opened Walton ICT Building as the ideal setting. The work, which spans Ms Bewick’s life to date, is shown across three floors around the Walton Building’s central atrium. The ground floor houses work from the current era while the first floor features work from the artist’s middle years and the 2nd floor showcases art from her early years, indeed from the tender age of two.

At the opening, President McAleese said she was delighted to open the permanent exhibition by an artist who has been painting since 1937 when she was just two years old and added “The wealth of tapestries, wall hangings, watercolours and sketches and the sheer variety of media and subjects take us on Pauline’s life journeys - the journeys through physical landscapes as varied as Kerry and the South Pacific, and the interior journeys where emotion and thought, passion and reflection are translated into such intriguing images."

Prof Kieran R Byrne, Director, Waterford Institute of Technology added “Pauline is a remarkably prolific artist and, as President McAleese has said, her work can be found in galleries and collections throughout the world. She is rightly acknowledged with membership of the RHA (Royal Hibernian Academy) and Aosdána but I know her living legacy here at Waterford Institute of Technology also carries real meaning for this most generous of artists who we can scarcely begin to thank enough.

“It is especially apt that part of the wider collection Pauline has gifted to the State will be showcased in a higher education institution given how adept this artist has been at grasping the concept of lifelong learning”

The Waterford Collection at WIT is open to the general public and the artist is particularly keen that students, academics, locals and tourists alike enjoy her expression of her life’s journey thus far.

Ms. Bewick also donated two further collections, one of which will be displayed in Killorglin, Co Kerry while the other will tour in Ireland and overseas.

Ms. Bewick is long established as one of Ireland's leading contemporary artists. Based in Kerry, she enjoys international acclaim for her unique style and vibrant work which has been described as Picasso-like. Her daughters Poppy and Holly are also talented artists.