A former NCAD fine art student turned model, make-up artist and beauty pro, Karen McLaughlin has worn many hats throughout her professional career – though she’s always returned to her one true passion; art. For McLaughlin, returning to the studio has been an artistic reawakening: “In my mid-thirties, my beauty career was flourishing, but something was missing for me. There was a deep creative longing inside that little seemed to fill. Now in my 40s, I’ve given myself permission to make art again.” Her latest solo exhibition entitled Quiet Horizons, runs at Dublin’s Wallace’s Asti until November 15.
The last thing I saw and loved… the play Grania, directed by Caitríona McLaughlin, which just finished its run in the Abbey Theatre. It’s a stunning adaptation of Lady Gregory’s 1912 play, weaving the legends of Gráinne, Diarmuid, and Fionn Mac Cumhaill into a rich contemporary retelling. Irish mythology brought so vividly to life on stage is a rare treat.
The book I keep coming back to… The World According to Colour by James Fox. It dives deep into the history, culture, and emotion of colour, which is a pure joy! Alongside that, Thin Places by Kerri Ní Dochartaigh, with its breathtaking blend of memoir, nature, and the raw history of Northern Ireland, and Fierce Appetites by Elizabeth Boyle, are also recent favourites. They all tap into something quite primal and explore Irish mythology and the connections between history, human nature, culture, and the creative process. All great stuff!
I find inspiration in… Inishowen. Where I was brought up in Northern Donegal is both raw and magnetic—it always pulls me back. There’s something about being on a beach early in the morning with a warm flask of cacao, doing some yoga or going for a swim in the Atlantic. I feel that this creates some kind of energetic clearing, shaking the outside world off to allow me to get into artistic flow. In Dublin, a wander through the National Gallery or the Hugh Lane, going back in time with some of the greats, is another sure way to spark inspiration.
My favourite film is… it is impossible to choose one! I love everything from Arthouse classics and old Hitchcock to documentaries and David Lynch. Bladerunner is a favourite – the mood, the atmosphere and the music. I’m drawn to films that delve into the surreal and challenge our perception.
My career highlight is… my current solo show at Wallace’s Asti! It’s such a joy to have my work hung in a vibrant little space in north Dublin, where people come to eat, drink, and experience life. There’s something special about exhibiting in an everyday space, where art can intersect with people’s daily routines.
The song I listen to get in the zone is… it really depends on my mood. I can go from blasting the dreamy soundscapes of Cocteau Twins to the deep and evocative music of Nick Cave to something a little heavier if I feel the need to release some raw visceral emotion. Sometimes, there is nothing better than tuning in to birdsong or the rhythm of rain.
The last piece of art I recommended is… Glebe House and Gallery in Donegal. It’s a hidden gem and a must-visit for any art lover. The celebrated painter Derek Hill lived and worked there from the 1950s to the 1980s. The house remains a gorgeous time capsule, beautifully adorned with William Morris textiles and oriental-inspired furniture. His incredible collection includes Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Louis le Brocquy, and Auguste Renoir. There are also some really fascinating pieces from Japan and the Islamic world.
I never leave the house without… a notebook. And my lipstick!
The performance I still think about is… a Chris Cornell gig at the Olympia Theatre. I was sitting in one of the box seats and felt like I could reach out and touch his head. For one piece, he played acoustic guitar and sang alongside a vinyl recording of a recently passed artist and friend. It was incredibly moving. His voice and that moment still stay with me.
The best advice I’ve ever gotten… “Draw what you see, not what you think you see.” From my mum. It’s funny because now I also paint what I feel, remember or intuit. To be able to work like this though, I believe understanding how to really see, discern, and describe accurately is invaluable.
The art that means the most to me is… Frank Auerbach’s charcoal heads. When I was in my teens, I worked with a local Donegal artist who taught me how to describe light, shadow and line through charcoal. I was obsessed with this medium, and it was around that time I discovered Auerbach’s work. His relentless making and breaking of images and the ideas of process, of the uncertainty of when a piece would reach the state of completion, helped to shape my own practice.
My favourite moment in this artwork is… I connect with the moments where impatience takes over, and the work transforms into something unexpected—something that feels beyond you and your, control. That’s when new life can be breathed into a piece.
The most challenging thing about being an artist is… navigating the uncertainty, not knowing how your work will evolve. But, building a relationship with that uncertainty is where the magic can happen.
After an exhibition, I… absorb! I process quite slowly, so I always try to stay in the moment and remain present.
If I wasn’t a visual artist I would be… I actually took a 10-year break from my practice, and in that time, I realised that too much of myself was missing. So now, no matter what, I’ll always make art.
The magic of art to me is… art has this almost limitless potential with an infinity of choices. It opens conversations, brings people together, poses questions, and brings joy and contemplation.
Quiet Horizons by artist Karen McLaughlin runs at Wallace’s Asti until November 15. Entry to the exhibition is free. See wallacewinebars.ie/asti for opening hours. For more on the artist visit karenannefineart.com.
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