‘Now is All there Was’, a solo exhibition by Renske Boef, will open at the Oughterard Courthouse Gallery this Friday, February 14.

Dr Gavin Murphy, lecturer in Art History and Critical Theory, and Chair of the MA Programme in Creative Practice at ATU, will perform the honours.

Dutch-born Renske has been living in Oughterard for the past 25 years and graduated from ATU in 2022.

She is a member of the local artists’ group, UachtarArts.

In Now is All there Was Renske explores the concept of time and memory through painting, with the use of an archive of old family photographs she brought with her to Ireland.

The artist has exhibited in many group exhibitions before now but this is her first solo show and she hopes people will find it beautiful and thought-provoking.

Renske has been involved in the local community since she moved to Oughterard. As well as being part of UachtarArts, she is secretary of the Oughterard Courthouse Arts Programme (OCAP), which organises summer exhibitions each year in the town.  And for more than 15 years, she has given art workshops to young people in the area.

Renske feels strongly about sharing her passion for art and is thrilled to be showing her work in Now is All there Was, which will be launched at 7pm this Friday, Valentine’s Day. The opening event will run until 9pm.

The exhibition will run daily in the Oughterard Courthouse on the town’s Main Street from this Friday, February 14, until Sunday, February 23.

It’s open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 5pm and on Sundays from 12 to 5pm. Entry is free and all are welcome.

Pictured: Renske Boef explores themes of time and memory in her paintings.