Maev Kelly presents “Solas” — a Solo Exhibition at the Cowshed Gallery, Farmleigh

Opening May 3rd, artist Maev Kelly unveils Solas, a new collection of intuitive, abstract works that mark a dynamic evolution in her practice. Moving beyond her celebrated work in portraiture and landscape, Kelly now embraces expressive, fluid brushwork and a visceral engagement with colour and texture.

The word Solas — Irish for light — reflects both the visual tone of the paintings and the emotional freedom found in their making. Lyrical, powerful, and calm, the works embody a visual language rooted in rhythm, movement, and presence.

The exhibition runs from May 3rd to May 24th at the Cowshed Gallery, Farmleigh, with free admission. Open: Wednesday – Sunday, 10am – 4.30pm.

Artist Statement – Maev Kelly
Solas

This new body of work marks a vibrant shift in my practice — a departure from the precision of portraiture, still life, and landscape into a freer, more intuitive visual language. These new paintings emerge from a place of deep movement and responsiveness, where gesture, texture, and flow take precedence over form.

Working with both rich, sumptuous colour and restrained, limited palettes, I explore the rhythm of brushwork and the energy within the act of painting itself. Each piece evolves through a process of layered intuition — moments of bold motion balanced with stillness, creating compositions that feel simultaneously powerful and light-filled.

“Solas,” meaning light, captures the essence of this shift. It reflects not only the visual energy of the work, but the emotional clarity and freedom I’ve discovered in this process. These paintings are alive with a quiet intensity — lyrical, energetic, and calm — infused with movement, rhythm, and light.

“Solas is more than light — it’s the feeling of being lit from within, of painting from instinct and breath.”