Born in Dublin in 1979, Redden graduated from the Crawford College of Art, winning several awards for his work, which has been described as all-encompassing in its vision. Following school he expanded his cultural education, which was wide-ranging and largely self-taught. He worked briefly in advertising and later for a wooden boat-builder in a village in the west of Ireland. He has traveled to five continents and continues to travel in search of a broader education.
He has taken inspiration from poets, philosophers, scientists and writers throughout his life. Redden has created his own distinctive iconography in which each element is loaded with symbolism and meaning.
A handful of overarching themes appear regularly in his work. He seeks to understand our purpose here on Earth, our relationship with the celestial, the spiritual and the weight of human history.
This fascination with the world and his thirst for knowledge and understanding provokes the viewer to consider these bigger questions with him. He seeks to form a narrative that defies any definitive interpretation yet aims to inspire far-ranging thoughts in the viewer.
Redden currently lives and works in Barcelona.
Education
1998-2001: Diploma (hons) in fine art sculpture, Dunlaoghaire Institute of Art and Design, Dublin.
2003–2004: Degree (hons) in fine art painting and sculpture, Crawford College of Art and Design, Cork.
Awards and Residencies
2002: Resident at Brookfield Studios, Margate, Tasmania, Australia.
2003: Awarded Eli Lily Acquisition Prize. Selected for RDS Annual Student Awards.
2004: Resident at Van Morey Studio, Snug, Tasmania, Australia.
2005: Resident at Mantua Art Project, Roscommon, Ireland, awarded bursary by Roscommon County Council.
2006, 2008, 2011, and 2012: Resident at Cill Rialaig, Ballinskelligs, Kerry Ireland.
Solo Exhibitions
2015: ‘The Reconfigured Beast,’ Museu Maritím de Barcelona, Spain.
2012: ‘The Vagabond goes to the Sea’, Origin gallery, Dublin.
2008: ‘Cave,’ Cibercentro, La Lila, Oviedo, Spain. ‘A Manual on Tidal Arrangements,’ Urban Retreat gallery, Dublin.
2007:‘What Remains,’ Urban Retreat Gallery, Dublin.
2006: ‘We the Navigators,’ Origin Gallery, Dublin.
Group Exhibitions
2015: Art Cosmos, Espronceda Center of Art and Culture, Barcelona, Spain.
2014: Spring show, Jorgensen Fine Art, Dublin.
2013- ‘Creative Connexions,’ Irish and Catalan art, Sitges, Spain.
2011: ‘Start,’ group show of original art posters, Dublin.
2010: ‘Art for Haiti,’ De Veres, Dublin. ‘Nau 1 Now,’ Barcelona, Spain.
2009: ‘Pols,’ Gracia Arts Project, Barcelona. Boyle Arts Festival, Roscommon, Ireland. ‘Bolivar meets Morales,’ Cerka’l Festival, Piera, Catalonia, Spain.
2008: ‘Landed,’ The Backloft, Dublin. ‘Strange Fish,’ Bold Art Gallery, Galway, Ireland. Royal Hibernian Academy annual exhibition, Dublin.
2007- ‘Céad,’ 411 Gallery, Shanghai, Beijing and Hangzhou, China.
2006: ‘6 x 6,’ 411 Gallery, Hangzhou, China. ‘A Wake,’ Mantua Arts Project, Roscommon, Ireland.
2005: ‘Living Artists,’ Berkley Gallery, Kilkenny, Ireland, ‘Broadstone End of year,’ Broadstone Studios, Dublin.
2004: ‘Art Trail’, Cork, Ireland. CCAD Degree Show, Cork, Ireland. ‘Big Green Shed,’ Margate, Tasmania, Australia.
2003: RDS Annual Student Awards, Royal Dublin Society, Dublin, Ireland.
2001: ‘High Tide,’ Mt. Wellington Sculpture trail, Tasmania. ‘Hydra,’ The Fitzwilliam, Dublin.
Collections
Cork Institute of Technology, Carlow Institute of Technology, Eli Lilly Ireland, Irish Teachers Union, Boyle Civic Trust, Office of Public Works Dublin, Mexican Embassy Ireland, Office of Public Works, Ireland.
Private collections in Europe, Asia, Australia, America.
Reviews
- ’Young artists who work beyond the Pale,’ Aidan Dunne, Irish Times, 25/06/04
- ‘Art optimism on Misery Hill,’ Ros Drinkwater, Sunday Business Post, 18/02/07
- ‘Currachs and optimism on the horizon in Redden’s inspirational exhibition,’ Andrea Smith, Sunday Independent, 21/09/08
- ‘Mark Redden,’ Virginia Casielles, Oviedo Cultura y Congresos, Spain, 17/11/08
- ‘Irish Artist and boat-builder,’ Nicola Thornton, Metropolitan Barcelona, 24/02/10
- ‘An Irish woman’s dairy,’ Lorna Siggins, Irish Times, 21/09/10
- ‘First Person,’ Lisa Brady, Sunday Business Post, 08/01/12