Beyond The Yarn: New Sculpture at the Foxford Woollen Mills, Foxford, Co Mayo, Ireland

Born in County Mayo but living in London since the age of twelve, artist and sculptor Jonathan O’Dea was given access to the Foxford Woollen Mills in County Mayo, Ireland. This access sparked a new sculpture project incorporating textiles into Jonathan’s current methods of creating sculptures. Inspired by the mills’ weaving processes and Mayo’s rich cultural heritage, O’Dea aimed to create experimental sculptures using yarns from the mills.  His project, “Beyond the Yarn,” explores the relationship between material sustainability and the natural environment, drawing inspiration from the mills’ history and the surrounding landscape.

Over the last 15 years, O’Dea’s artistic practice revolves around reimagining discarded materials, a practice influenced by his visit to the Foxford Woollen Mills in Mayo. This visit ignited an exploration of weaving techniques and led him to incorporate recycled materials like pallet wood into his sculptural works.  The rugged beauty of the Mayo landscape, its historical sites, and the legacy of the Foxford Woollen Mills all contribute to the narrative and aesthetic of his sculptures.

Jonathan has had 19 solo exhibitions and been selected for over 26 group exhibitions in Britain, Ireland, and China. He has also received funding from Arts Council England for several high-profile projects, including the Cultural Olympiad in 2012. Furthermore, he has created sculptures using materials from significant infrastructure projects such as the Crossrail (Queen Elizabeth line). He is currently developing work using materials from HS2 from London to Birmingham.