Anthony Carey

"My art practice is about creating spaces for empathy and healing. Through my work, I strive to foster empathy and understanding, engaging viewers on a deeper level, inviting them to connect with those emotions and in doing so, come to recognize their own emotive journey. My abstract works emerge from an intuitive process, and are quite physical. The application of paint, the building of textures, and the violent interaction with the canvas result in works that, despite their tumultuous creation, exude a sense of calm. In researching subsequent series, exploration of Ireland's past traumas and the concept of the collective-unconscious quickly became personal as my daughter prepared to leave the country, leading to awareness that no-one is alone in feelings of loss and loneliness. Themes of isolation are prominent in my current work. The figures, created with broken, rough textures of plaster, symbolize the universality of personal fracture we experience as a humanity at various periods in our lives, and the yearning to feel a sense of whole and belonging - just as we did before grief became us. My identity, experiences, and wisdom are the driving forces behind my art. It is a shared exploration of healing and understanding, a testament to our collective human experience."