BIO
Born in 1979, Gołdap, PL / Resides and works in Ballinskelligs, IE
Dominika Piekarska is originally from Poland, now living in South West Kerry Ireland since 2012. She is currently developing her artistic practice on Iveragh Peninsula, after studying various skills and techniques in oil painting and gaining a reputation for her atmospheric, contemporary landscape works. With background in health psychology (MA) and lifelong interest in visual arts, her professional focus eventually shifted towards pursuing full time art career. She participates regularly in solo exhibitons, group shows, art auctions and art events in Ireland. Much of the work was created during numerous artist residencies, which are an important part of her practice. She is a recipient of various Awards, the most recent ones are: Áras Éanna Arts Centre Residency 2026 Award and Bursary to Attend and Artist Retreat Award from Kerry County Council. She is a regular artist in residence at the Cill Rialaig Project, South West Kerry and in The Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Annaghmakerrig. Her paintings are being sold to collectors nationwide and abroad (Ireland, USA, UK, Poland, France, Germany). For the past years, her main source of inspiration has been the renowned elemental scenery of West Kerry. With a proficiency in capturing the atmosphere of a "place", she created an extensive body of work on this topic. The paintings capture the environment's mood. She developed a recognizable style, characterized by the interplay of soft edges and subtle light effects, with a sense of depth, mystery and strong emphasis on skies and clouds. Her work can be described as dreamy, evocative and poetic. In 2022 Piekarska collaborated with The National Institute of Polish Rural Culture and Heritage in Warsaw and created a series of children's illustrations, which were then turned into a kids board game and published in 2023. She is currently expanding her practice outside of Kerry and seeking opportunities to explore other subject-matters. Her interests also include topics on the intersection of arts and wellbeing. Before moving to Ballinskelligs, Piekarska lived in Killarney and during that time she completed City & Guilds accredited training in decorative painting techniques. She is a professional member of Visual Artists Ireland and holds Postgraduate Certificate in Illustration, Comic Book Design and Elements of Concept Art.
CV
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2025
A Glipmse of Light (solo exhibition), Cill Rialaig Arts Centre, Ballinskelligs, IE
Light Shining Through (solo exhibition), United Arts Club, Dublin, IE
WESTWARD (group exhibition), Greenlane Gallery, Dingle, IE
2024
Coastal Impressions (solo exhibition), Cork Airport, Cork, IE
The Kerry Collection (solo exhibition), Cill Rialaig Arts Centre, Ballinskelligs, IE
Members' Christmas Exhibition (group exhibition), United Arts Club, Dublin, IE
Cahersiveen Art Trail (art festival), Cahersiveen, IE
Kaleidoscope (group exhibition), Kenmare Butter Market, Kenmare, IE
2023
Light Between the Rain (solo exhibition), St. John's Theatre & Arts Centre, Listowel, IE
Graduate Artshow (online group exhibition), University of Zielona Gora PL
Polish Artist Exhibition (group exhibition), Cill Rialaig Arts Centre, Ballinskelligs
2022
Serenity. Beneath a Kerry Sky (solo exhibition), Cill Rialaig Arts Centre, Ballinskelligs, IE (supported by Kerry County Council)
Winter Art Exhibition (group exhibition), The Killarney Framer, Killarney, IE
2021
Kenmare Windows Summer Arts Exhibition (art festival), Mill Cove Gallery, Kenmare, IE
In Search of Beauty (online group exhibition), People & Paintings Gallery, New York, USA
2020
Dominika UNFRAMED (solo exhibition), Cill Rialaig Arts Centre, Ballinskelligs, IE
RELEVANT EDUCATION
2022-2023 Postgraduate Certificate in Illustration, Comic Book Design & Elements of Concept Art, University of Zielona Góra, PL
2028-2019 City & Guilds Accredited - Decorative Paintings Skills, Cork Training Centre, Cork
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
2025 Introduction to Arts in Health, Wrexham University
2025 Conor Walton Summer School, Arklow
2023-2024 Comics & Basics of Illustration, Creative Arts Centre, Wrocław
2024 Painting the Classical Portrait, Dublin
2024 How to get started with freelance illustration, Berlin
2021 Drypoint, Ballinskelligs
2020 Monotype, Ballinskelligs
2019 Traditional Signwriting & Glass Gilding, School of Decorative Arts, Manchester
AWARDS & GRANTS
2026 Áras Éanna Arts Centre Residency Award 2026, Áras Éanna Arts Centre, Inis Oírr
2026 Bursary to Attend an Artist Retreat, Kerry County Council
2025 Mentee, NURTURE Mentorship Programme 2025, Minding Creative Minds Ireland
2024 Artist Curatorial Support Programme, Kerry County Council & Visual Artists Ireland
2022 Creative Work Development Bursary 2022, Kerry County Council
2021 Cill Rialaig Emerging Artist of the Year 2020, Cill Rialaig Arts Centre
2021 Finalist (selected painting), ‘In Search of Beauty’, People & Paintings Gallery
RESIDENCIES
2026 (upcoming) Rothko Museum, Daugavpils, LV
2026 (upcoming) Áras Éanna Arts Centre, Inis Oírr, IE
2026 (upcoming) The Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Annaghmakerrig, IE
2025 The Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Annaghmakerrig, IE
2025 The Cill Rialaig Project, Ballinskelligs, IE
2024 The Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Annaghmakerrig, IE
2023 The Cill Rialaig Project, Ballinskelligs, IE
2022 The Cill Rialaig Project, Ballinskelligs, IE
2020 The Cill Rialaig Project, Ballinskelligs, IE
PRESS & RADIO
2025 Radio Kerry, 'In Business' (guest), Aug 7 2025
2025 Nasza Gazeta w Irlandii (Polish Newspaper in Ireland), April 4 2025
2025 Good Consumer Guide, Sunday, Mar 30 2025
2025 The Irish Mail on Sunday, Mar 30 2025
2024 Kerry's Eye, Sep 19 2024
2024 Nasza Gazeta w Irlandii (Polish Newspaper in Ireland), Sep 13 2024
2024 Irish Independent & The Kerryman, Sep 12 2024
2024 Cork City Community Radio; 'Let's Talk Polish' (guest), Sep 9 2024
2022 KillarneyToday.com, April 8 2022
2021 Killarney Advertiser, Nov 19 2021
2021 Irish Farmers Journal, Aug 18 2021
PUBLIC COMMISSIONS
2023
National Institute of Rural Culture and Heritage in Warsaw, PL
Project 'Secrets of the People's Trunk' ('Tajemnice Ludowego Kufra'). Nineteen illustrations popularizing traditional Polish outfits, published as children's board game in 2023 (project supported by The Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, Polish Ombudsman for Children, Polish TV & Radio channels for children)