Alison Mac Cormaic
Alison Mac Cormaic
Mosaic artist - Educator
Mosaic artist - Educator
BIOGRAPHY
Originally from Scotland, I now live near Loughrea in County Galway, Ireland, working in the medium of mosaic and as an arts educator in schools and community settings. I studied Architectural Glass at Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) and completed a Masters in Design History and Material Culture and The National College of Art and Design (NCAD), Dublin.
Primarily a glass artist, I am drawn to making expressive works with handmade glass. Originally working with stained glass, I began making mosaics when I discovered Mexican smalti, a luxury hand made opaque, mosaic glass material.
EXHIBITIONS
My work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, in Ireland, France, the UK and Italy, including at the coveted Venice Glass Week HUB, 2025 and Opere dal Mondo, Biennial of Contemporary Mosaic, Ravenna, Italy.
COMMISSIONS
I have completed a number of sculptural, architectural, educational and community commissions for The Arts Council, The Heritage Council, National Universities, County Councils and Creative Ireland.
If you are interested in commissioning mosaic work please get in touch.
COMMUNITY
I work with community groups to create site specific mosaics. Projects involve community groups in the creative process. The commissions are inspired by local cultural heritage, centred in drawing from life and use colour combinations that sing.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Education
Employment
2017 - 2019
Professional Diploma in Education (Further Education), University of Galway.
Part time art teacher, Youthreach
Teaching Support Staff, University of Galway
2014 - 2016
Masters in Design History and Material culture, NCAD.
Awards / Commissions
2013 - 2014
Certificate in Integrating Literacy, Maynooth University.
1989 - 1993
BA (Hons) Architectural Glass, ECA
2025
Pattern for Portumna, Community mosaic for Portumna Library, Creative Ireland funding.
Exhibitions
2025
Birds of a Feather, Community mosaic for Ballinasloe Library, Creative Ireland funding.
2025
GSoI Juried Exhibition, Botanic Gardens, Dublin
Opere dal Mondo, AIMC’s juried exhibtion, Ravenna Biennale of Contemporary Mosaics, Ravenna, Italy
2024
Interwined, Mosaic of the Community Brain. Ballybane Library, EU Horizon Programme with CURAM
2023
Foxglove mosaic installation and art education in CAMHS, Galway. Arts Council YPCE funding.
Venice Glass Week HUB, Venice Italy
2022
Knockcroghery, Fire! Sculptural mosaic for Knockcroghery, County Roscommon.
Overlooked, World of Glass, St Helen’s, Liverpool, England.
Fourteen Fragile Forms, joint show with glass artist, LIndsay LeBlanc, Clifden Arts Festival
2024
2022
St Patrick’s Bell.Sculptural mosaic commission for Glor na nGael.
2021
Flowers, Fruits and Seedcases. Mosaic Merlin Woods. Per Cent for Art
Peace Bowl Exhibition, GSoI, City Assembly House, Dublin
2021
Theory of Entanglement. CONNECT, Waterford Institute of Technology
Constellations, Mosaic exhibition Chester Cathedral
Fashion Fusion Show, Biot, France
Group Show, Shorelines Arts Festival, Portumna
2022
2019
2019
2017
Lixnaw Illustrated Inventory of Everyday Objects and Lost Palaces Mosaic. Kerry County Council as part of the Creative Ireland Programme.
Artist in Schools. Galway County Council funding.
Planning Through Time. Heritage Council and Arts Council, YPCE funding.
2017
Design History Society. International award winner in excellence for design writing.
Offices
Founding member and Chairperson of Mosaic Artists Association Ireland (MAAI)
Education Officer of Glass Society of Ireland (GSOI) and member of the Editorial Team for Glass Ireland
Member of British Association for Modern Mosaics (BAMM)
Member of Visual Artists Ireland (VAI)
Member of Associazione Internazionale Mosaicisti Contemporanei (AIMC)
© Alison Mac Cormaic 2023 | All Rights Reserved