In a sad day for the arts in Ireland, the Arts Council has expressed its sadness at the passing of sculptor, Aosdána member and Saoi, Imogen Stuart. 

Born in Berlin in 1927, Imogen Stuart apprenticed under Otto Hitzberger, a former professor at the National College of Fine Art in Berlin, before relocating to Ireland in 1951. Influenced by German expressionism and early Irish Christian art, she mastered various mediums including wood, stone, bronze, steel, clay, plaster, and terracotta. 

Elected as Professor of Sculpture by the Royal Hibernian Academy in 2000, Stuart’s prolific career included exhibitions at prestigious venues like the Salzburg Biennale, Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery in Dublin, and the Solomon Gallery.  Her sculptures are displayed in public spaces and churches across Ireland, from cathedrals to Dublin Airport. 

Philomena Poole, Deputy Chair of the Arts Council, said: “I am deeply saddened by the loss of Imogen Stuart, a luminary whose mastery of sculptural art enriched Ireland’s cultural tapestry. Her diverse influence and prolific career spanning various mediums exemplify her profound dedication to the arts. Imogen’s legacy, reflected in iconic works across Ireland and her numerous accolades, will forever inspire generations to come.” 

Recipient of numerous awards including the Oireachtas Art Exhibition Award in 1972 and the ESB Keating McLoughlin Award in 1999, Stuart was bestowed with honorary degrees from Trinity College, UCD, and NUI Maynooth. In 2015, she was honoured as Saoi of Aosdána at a ceremony presided over by President Michael D. Higgins. 

Among her major stone works are the Grave of President Erskine Childers in County Wicklow, the Arch of Peace in Cavan’s Market Square, and the Fountain Wall in Knock, County Mayo. Stuart resided in County Dublin until her passing.