Happy New Year - here’s to 2023!

2022 was a great year for PIGSY art and I know that 2023 will be even better. Last year I wrote about the Irish tradition of opening all of the windows and doors at midnight to let the old year out. This year I thought back to my year in Spain as a resident artist in La Casa Amarilla in Malaga, where the Spanish tradition at midnight is to start eating twelve grapes (representing the twelve months) on each bell toll with each of the grapes representing a wish for the year ahead.

And so while wishes and good luck are always something we think about as the old year passes in to the new, I truly believe that hard work and good intentions bring positivity and goodness in to all our lives. So for me both personally and professionally in my art career I take the New Year as an opportunity to both look back over the past year and also set goals and intentions for the future new year.

What has now become a regular annual thing on this blog and at this time of the year, I always do a review of all that has happened with PIGSY art which helps me look back and see all that I have achieved but also helps me to formulate future goals. So in no particular order here are some of the highlights and achievements of my art life over 2022:

1. PIGSY art is represented by a second Spanish Gallery with the opening of Wish y Pop in Sevillla.

2. PIGSY is profiled as one of the "Creative bohemians" in Tony Bryant's book "A Cohort of Creative Bohemians"

3.PIGSY takes up a position as one of the selected "Artists in Residence" in Ranelagh Arts

4. PIGSY Art is selected for the Ranelagh Arts Summer Show and Cultural Natures Group Show. Being part of these group shows in my hometown was such fun and I met some really interesting artists involved in the Dublin art scene.

5. PIGSY is asked to be on the Ranelagh Arts selection committee for future group shows. headed by Ranelagh Arts Director Monika Crowley, it's an honour to be selected to be part of this committee.

6. A PIGSY "Squash Soldiers" print is commissioned by an Art Collector as a gift for their husbands birthday. I really enjoyed being part of this celebration of their special person's "big" birthday!

7. Dyslexia Canada shares the "PIGSY" film which brings it to a new wider audience. The film is about me, my life as an artist and how I work as someone with dyslexia.

8. "Gloria" by Slow Lane Gallery and Shoeless Foot Video Productions features me and my work alongside two other artists.

9. I am always happy to see PIGSY art head off to new homes all over the world, this year was no different with art sales in USA, Ireland and Spain - it's an honour for art collectors to select a PIGSY piece and to hang them in their home.

10. A PIGSY art piece now hangs in Insomnia on Baggot Street and Library St. Restaurant in Dublin - 2 high profile eateries which now showcase PIGSY art with Library St having 3 large pieces on display in their private dining room.

11. I am invited to participate in Neurodiversity Ireland’s inaugural Infinity Ball with PIGSY artwork included in the auction at the event

12. I proudly supported the Black & White Movement’s Art Event in order to raise funds for MND Ireland

13. “Art Deli” popped up in December with 6 established artists including PIGSY - accessible and affordable art was brought to Ranelagh for the holiday season

14. Created the PIGSY art video series which, with digital manager Enid Bebbington, showcased and highlighted particular PIGSY artworks

15. Selected to be a featured artist in Dialann 2023 which as a fluent Irish speaker gave me great pleasure

16. An Capail Dorcha featured a PIGSY art work in their publication

17, Selected by curator Dino Notaro of Slow Lane Gallery to be part of the “LARBI” group exhibition in Gallery X on Hume Street just off Stephens Green in Dublin City.

18. Selected to be a participating artist in “Pinazo” group show in both Malaga (La Casa Amarilla) and Seville (Wish y Pop) in Spain

19. PIGSY artwork was presented in Brazil by Domlexia as part of the “Dyslexia Quande Arte” digital exhibition which brought together the work of dyslexic artists from all over the world

20. PIGSY art is shown in Marbella, Spain in Homíes Art House in Puerto Banus

As you can see I have been involved in some really interesting art projects during 2022 but already on the cards for 2023 there are some exciting plans coming to fruition. So keep an eye on my blog for all that I get up to during the new year,.

For PIGSY art, 2023 is going to be great!