Helouise O’Reilly

Helouise O’Reilly is an Irish artist born and based in Belfast. 

From a young age O’Reilly has been a gatherer of stories.  This role has formed the basis of her art practice which explores themes of identity.  As a result, the work mainly stems from encounters with people.  O’Reilly tends to immerse herself in other worlds, spending intensive periods of time with people in their own environments, listening and observing.  She is often attracted to worlds that are hidden or more private in nature, a process of uncovering the unseen. 

O’Reilly works in a range of media including video, photography and object making which often come together to create installations.  Depending on the concept being explored, the materials used may vary.  However, the most important material is time.  The relationships O’Reilly build within her practice are sensitively based on trust and respect, without which her work would not be possible.

In 2014 O’Reilly was awarded the Digital Arts Studios BA Fine Art Graduate Residency Award following her studies at the University of Ulster.  Upon completion of a Masters in FIne Art also from the University of Ulster, O’Reilly was awarded the Catalyst Arts Emerging Artist Award, funded by the Fenton Arts Trust.  She has exhibited nationally in group and solo exhibitions including Belfast Exposed and the Ulster Museum.  She has also exhibited internationally and had work featured in the Belfast Film Festival. O’Reilly was nominated for the 2019 Kleinwort Hambros Emerging Artist Prize. 

Image: Untitled (2016)  photograph

Website:  www.helouiseoreilly.com