At Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre · Western Road, Skibbereen, Co. Cork
Cork-based artist Lara Quinn brings new oil paintings and a performance-to-camera film to Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre for a month-long resident exhibition running through August 2026. Quinn is an emerging figurative painter whose work draws on mythology, folklore and personal narrative - her canvases project her own likeness onto mythological figures as a way of exploring identity and heritage. If you are curious about contemporary Irish art that is genuinely rooted in something - not just decorative but layered and biographical - this is worth a detour to Skibbereen.
The exhibition presents two new oil paintings produced during Quinn’s residency under the Uillinn / Cork County Council Artist in Residence Award. Both works are connected to a performance film she is developing with mentorship from Irish performance artists Aideen Barry and Áine Phillips, so there is a thread running between the painted and the filmed work that rewards looking slowly.
Quinn graduated from MTU Crawford College of Art and Design with a first class honours in Fine Art in 2024, having previously studied Art History at UCC. Her paintings are figurative and rich with art-historical symbolism - she cites magic-realism as an influence - but the autobiographical undercurrent keeps them from feeling academic. The studio is open to visitors on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the residency, so there is a chance to see work in progress as well as finished pieces.
Uillinn itself is a purpose-built contemporary arts centre with two galleries, three artist studios, and a courtyard café. The building is handsome and the galleries are well lit - it is the kind of space where you can take your time without feeling hurried. Discovery packs and activity sheets are available for families.
Skibbereen sits roughly 90 km south-west of Cork City along the N71 - a scenic drive through Bandon and Clonakilty that takes just under two hours in ordinary traffic. There is no direct rail to Skibbereen; Bus Éireann runs services from Cork City to Skibbereen (route 237), though schedules are limited so check times in advance. Uillinn is on Western Road, a short walk from the town centre, and street parking is available nearby.
Skibbereen is a market town with a strong arts tradition, a good Saturday market, and the moving Skibbereen Heritage Centre nearby, which tells the story of the Great Famine in the local area with considerable care. There is more to see in Skibbereen and across Co. Cork.
Heading to Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre in Skibbereen? Cork has plenty more to see. Read the Skibbereen area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.