Shannonbridge pub painting featured at New York art fair

By Rebekah O'Reilly

Midlands artist Carmel Rooney was honoured to have her artwork of JJ Killeen's Pub in Shannonbridge featured at one of the world's most prestigious art fairs in New York recently.

Carmel's work was presented digitally at the New York Expo from April 4 to April 6, as part of an exhibition titled 'I Segnalati' which was curated by Salvatore Russo.

"It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase my art in New York, and I was honoured to receive the International Prize of the New York Masters," Carmel said.

"It was amazing, really, because I was one of 45 international artists there, so you're up there with the very best."

Her painting of JJ Killeen's will now feature in the new 2025 catalogue of the International Prize of the New York Masters.

In the catalogue, each of the 45 artists displayed at the exhibition will have a dedicated page.

"JJ Killeen's is a traditional kind of pub, it originally had a grocers and the pub, and it was relevant in New York where there are so many Irish people," Carmel said.

"I was commissioned by JJ Killeen's to paint the pub, and I made it into prints. That's how it came about."

The original artwork remains in JJ Killeen's pub in Shannonbridge. Carmel's appearance at the New York Expo is just one of a number of highlights for the Athlone artist this year.

In January, she travelled to Florence to collect the award for International Artist of the Year at the Palazzo Palace.

She will now travel back to Italy on June 7 to receive the International Award from the Leonardo Di Vinci Museum of Science and Technology in Milan.

"It's a bit daunting, but it's also very humbling," Carmel said. "I've been making art for the past 20 years on and off, and I opened by studio just after the pandemic in 2021.

"It is a great feeling to be recognised alongside all of these fantastic international artists."

Carmel's studio and shop is based on Athlone's Castle Street.

To find out more, search Carmel Rooney Art on Facebook and Instagram, or see:

carmelrooneyart.ie