Tracey Quinn | Dusk Sallygap | 1994 | Oil on canvas | 60 x 75 cm

As we enter a new period of hope of a brighter future that lies ahead, we are sharing selection of works from the Arts Council Collection, under the theme of ‘The Artist's Journey’. Highlighting 10 works made between 1977 and 2013 that explore places near to home and those further away. Artists have always captured the landscape, near and far, and the selection demonstrates the beautiful vistas created by artists in Ireland, and elsewhere.

Here, Tracey Quinn, whose work is showcased under the ‘The Artist's Journey’ theme, tells us more about the featured artwork. Explore this and more from the Arts Council collection at instagram.com/artscouncilireland/  

I have always felt a strong response to the Irish Landscape, or more importantly the constantly evolving light on distant hills and the dynamic skies that describe the land in a kaleidoscope of colour.

I moved to Dublin in the early 1990s and although I was excited to be living in a vibrant city I did struggle to find my landscape subject matter. I used to drive around endlessly searching for the perfect vista with the perfect light. Coming across the Sallygap one day I was amazed such drama could exist so close to the city. The Wicklow hills were my inspiration for quite a few years.

Dusk Sallygap was painted in 1994, its earthy colours, thin paint and spontaneous simplification of form are then almost veering towards abstraction. My work today continues to be about trying to embody the atmosphere and movement in the landscape, and my constant struggle to capture a moment in time with oil on canvas.

This piece was purchased very early on in my career, definite affirmation that I was doing something right, and a great honour to be included in the Arts Council collection.

—Tracey Quinn

Since 1962, the Arts Council has been buying art from working artists. The Collection that evolved tells the story of modern and contemporary Irish visual art in a unique and fascinating way. Today the Collection continues to grow and it is comprised of more than 1,200 artworks including sculpture, painting, performance, print, video, installation, photography and other works many of which are on display in public spaces all over Ireland for people to experience and enjoy first hand.

The artworks being added to the Collection each year are by artists who live and work in communities both across Ireland and internationally, continuing a proud history of the Arts Council purchasing excellent and ambitious art, and it reflects the immense quality of visual arts practice today. You can find out more at: www.artscouncil.emuseum.com