Finding art: Cork artist opens first solo exhibition at 65

COLETTE SHERIDAN meets Cork woman Kim Roberts, who went back to study art in her 50s, and recently opened her debut solo art exhibition at Ballymaloe Grainstore.

Former sales and marketing professional, Kim Roberts could sell anything but says she is “very shy” about selling her own art.

However, she is excited about her debut solo art exhibition taking place at Ballymaloe Grainstore until April 21.

The Currabinny-based artist, from whom the National Gallery of Ireland acquired one of her paintings in 2019 for its permanent collection, came to art late in life.

Kim started her degree at the Crawford College of Art and Design at the age of 50.

Prior to that, she spent a few years at Colaiste Stiofáin Naofa (CSN) putting a portfolio together “and learning how to be an artist and everything that involved.”

Before this chapter in her life, Kim worked in the corporate world in London, the U.S and America.

“I was a bit of a nomad; I always wanted to get out of Cork even though I love it. Working in sales was a great experience but you burn out after a certain period of time.”

When Kim was living in California, she met her husband, Alan Mathewson, who was there at a conference.

“I came back to Cork a year later and that was it. I settled in Currabinny. We were coming and going a bit as my husband travelled with work. He’s a microelectronic engineer (and was one of the founders of the National Microelectronic Research Centre, now called the Tyndall Institute). We were living in for a few years and came home in 2008.

“I couldn’t get a job because of the economic crash. I went to the wonderful CSN as a mature student. I always had an interest in art, going to galleries. When I was in the rag trade, I was always pulled in to give advice for window displays and colour combinations.

“I wasn’t necessarily somebody who was sketching and drawing all the time, but I was always taking a lot of photographs.

“I got the honour in art in the Leaving Certificate. But that was going nowhere. My art teacher was pushing me towards art college. But my mum and dad said ‘no way’. I was probably a little feral as well. When you’re at boarding school (at Loreto Convent in Youghal) and then you get out, you go a bit wild.

“My parents probably thought art school wouldn’t be the right place for me and I think they were right.”

But clearly, Kim, who is now 65, took to studying and creating art in her mature years with enthusiasm. She stayed at CSN for three years and didn’t want to leave.

“Going to the Crawford was another challenge. I loved it. It gave me huge hope and belief in the younger generation. I was afraid there might be a bit of ageism but there wasn’t during my time there. There were ten mature students in my year. We were like the mommas and big sisters to the younger students.”

Kim its that she found studying in her 50s quite tough.

“I wasn’t computer-literate at all. I knew how to send emails. But there’s a lot involved in multimedia. I did multimedia at the Crawford, which involved a lot of computer work. I used to be really tired; it would take a lot out of me. The funny thing was, I ended up doing an audio/video installation for my final year degree show. It was unreal. I really hadn’t a clue. But I had really good mates from the younger generation (at Crawford) who helped me.

“I did some printmaking as well. At the Crawford, they try to push you out of your comfort zone, which is a good thing in a way.”

After finishing at the Crawford, Kim and her husband moved to Thessaloniki in Greece in 2018 for three years. Alan was studying there. And Kim fell on her feet when she ed an artists’ collective in Greece’s second biggest city.

“It was fantastic from a creative point of view. I got in with some great colourful characters and did workshops. The city has a blend of food, art and different architectural styles. While I love Cork, I could have lived in Greece for the rest of my life. They have a great attitude to life; they’re like the Irish.”

In her artwork, Kim has become known for transforming discarded materials into striking mixed-media pieces.

“I do a lot of beachcombing. When I was living in Greece, I was called the ‘dumpster diva,’ taking things out of skips, finding items I could sketch and incorporate into a piece.

“Here in Ireland, I love being on fishermen’s piers and beaches. You could find anything; man-made objects that have been thrown up onto the beach, battered and bruised with a story behind it. I have an amazing stash in my studio. I love the natural stuff as well.”

Kim has found glass bottles “from 100 years ago, covered in barnacles and rust. I love rust. People think I’m mad but I do actually love it. I rust things myself and I’ve used rusty locks in my installation.

“At the Crawford, I was storytelling through rust and a video filmed underwater, and light.”

It was at Cork Printmakers, while Kim was grieving the death of her father, that she produced a body of work “which was really sensitive and fragile. My dear old dad was a big person in my life.

“One of the pieces I did was chosen to tour around Europe. It ended up in the Crawford and then the National Gallery bought it. I was floored by that. It gave me a really big boost.”

And plenty of affirmation for this artist who is thriving in her 60s.