In this REWIND episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Alice Maher (@Maher. Alice)

Alice Maher is a prominent Irish contemporary artist whose work explores themes of identity, gender, mythology, and the body. Born in 1956 in County Tipperary, Maher studied at the University of Ulster, Belfast, and the San Francisco Art Institute. Her practice spans a wide range of media, including drawing, sculpture, photography, installation, and film.

Maher is known for using unconventional materials such as hair, nettles, thorns, and animal organs, challenging traditional boundaries between nature and culture, the beautiful and the grotesque. Her art frequently references Irish folklore, literature, and feminist theory, creating deeply symbolic and often unsettling imagery. Works like The Axe (and the Waving Girl) and Mnemosyne reflect her interest in memory, transformation, and the female experience.

In addition to her visual work, Maher has collaborated with writers, musicians, and performers, enriching her practice with interdisciplinary influences. She represented Ireland at the São Paulo Bienal in 1994 and has exhibited widely in major galleries, including the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Maher remains a vital figure in contemporary art, both in Ireland and internationally.

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