Using mixed media on canvas, wood and paper, Kelly Ratchford creates ambiguous images that allude to experiences not necessarily comfortable, easy or tasteful. Her interest in these lonely and anxious states competes with an enthusiasm for colour, street art, humour and the pictures drawn by young children.

It is this tension and the challenge of using simple lines to create more layered images that provide the basis for her work.

Kelly Ratchford
 

Toronto, Canada

BORN

1998BA Fine Art (Painting), Wimbledon School of Art, London, England
1995Foundation in Art and Design, Kingsway College, London, England
1989Master of Social Work, University of Toronto
1986BA Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

EDUCATION

2025
  • ‘Memorandum’, Winter group show, Olivier Cornet Gallery (OCG), Dublin
  • ‘Ode to Giants’, group show, OCG
  • ‘Out of Lines’, Bloomsday Summer group show, OCG
  • ‘Art Evolve’, Contemporary art fair at the RDS, Dublin with OCG
2024
  • ‘Contrasts’, Winter group show, OCG, Dublin
  • ‘Pink is my Colour’, group show, OCG
2023
  • ‘Compendium’, Winter group show, OCG
  • ‘1515, group show, OCG
  • ‘My Favourite Artwork’ at the Olivier Cornet Gallery, OCG
2022
  • ‘2012 - 2022, a decade of exhibitions at the Olivier Cornet Gallery’ group show
  • ‘Outrageous, obscene, and offensive’, Bloomsday group show, OCG
  • ‘Memento, looking back, looking forward’, group show, OCG
2021
  • ‘Less Jam, More Havoc’, two person exhibition ith Jaki Coffey, OCG
  • ‘On Paper’, group show, OCG
  • ‘Summer Show’, Jill George Gallery at Coningsby Gallery, London, UK
  • ‘Jam Havoc’, two person exhibition with Jaki Coffey, OCG (online access only due to covid restrictions)
2020
  • ‘Resurfacing’, group exhibition, OCG
  • ‘Drawing on Quixote, group show, OCG
  • ‘The Morphing the Feminine’, Group show, OCG
2019
  • ‘Cycling through the Rages’ co-curated and participated in group exhibition at the Olivier Cornet Galler
  • ART Seattle, Jill George Gallery
  • ‘Drawing on Don Quixote’, group exhibition with OCG at the Wexford Opera House
  • ART Toronto, Jill George Gallery
  • VUE Art Fair, Royal Hibernian Academy, group exhibition with the OCG
2018
  • VUE Art Fair, Royal Hibernian Academy, group show with the OCG
  • ART Toronto
  • ‘Somewhere between perception and reality’, group exhibition at the OCG
  • London Art Fair, Jill George Gallery
2017
  • ‘Things Are Going to Slide’, two person show with Mark Doherty at the OCG, Dublin
  • London Art Fair, Jill George Gallery
  • ‘Elevation’ group show at the OCG, Dublin
  • TiT Art & Design, part of the official Culture Program for the Cycling World Championships, Bergen, Norway
  • VUE Art Fair, Royal Hibernian Academy, group show with the OCG
  • ART Toronto, Jill George Gallery, Toronto, Canada
  • 2 Degrees Celsius, group exhibition at the OCG, Dublin
  • National Open Art Exhibition, selected exhibition, London, UK
  • ‘No Fixed Abode’, selected group exhibition, Copper House Gallery, Dublin
2016
  • Art Toronto, Jill George Gallery
  • ‘Republic’, Group show at the OCG, Dublin
  • VUE Art Fair, Royal Hibernian Academy, group show with the OCG, Dublin
  • ‘Autumn Delights’, group show, Jill George Gallery at Coningsby Gallery, London
  • London Art Fair, Jill George Gallery
  • ‘Elevation’, group exhibition at the OCG
2015
  • Art Toronto, Jill George Gallery
  • ‘Hopscotch’, group show curated by the OCG
  • VUE Art Fair, Royal Hibernian Academy, group show with the OCG, Dublin
  • ‘5 Cavendish Row’, group show at the OCG, Dublin
  • ‘A Terrible Beauty’, travelling group show curated by the OCG, Octagonal Room, City Assembly House Dublin
  • London Art Fair, Jill George Gallery
  • Imago Mundi, Luciano Benetton Collection, selected for the Irish Collection 2015, www.imagomundiart.com
  • ‘Salad Days’, two person exhibition with Emily Mannion at the OCG
2014
  • Group Show, Jill George Gallery at Coningsby Gallery, London
  • Toronto International Art Fair, Jill George Gallery
  • London Art Fair, Jill George Gallery
2013
  • ‘More Than This (Part 2)’, Mountmellick Gallery, Co. Laois, Ireland
  • Toronto International Art Fair, Jill George Gallery
  • Eigse Annual Open, Carlow Arts Festival, Ireland
  • ‘Outside In’, Fringe Arts Bath, England
  • London Art Fair, Jill George Gallery, London, England
2012
  • Group Exhibition, Jill George Gallery at Gallery 27, London, England
  • Art Toronto, Jill George Gallery
  • ‘Annual Exhibition’, Royal Ulster Academy, Belfast
  • artMRKT 2012, San Francisco, California
  • ‘Intimate Revolution’, Irish Wave 3, Siemens Art Space, Beijing
  • ‘Positions’, Wandesford Quay Gallery, Cork City, Ireland
  • London Art Fair, Jill George Gallery, London, England
2011
  • Toronto International Art Fair, Jill George Gallery
  • Art Chicago, Jill George Gallery
  • London Art Fair, Jill George Gallery
2010
  • Toronto International Art Fair, Jill George Gallery
  • Summer Show, Jill George Gallery, London, England
  • Art Chicago, Jill George Gallery
  • London Art Fair, Jill George Gallery
2009
  • ‘Noughtie’, Lisburn, Northern Ireland
  • Art Toronto, Jill George Gallery
  • Art Chicago, Jill George Gallery
  • London Art Fair, Jill George Gallery
2008
  • ‘Cabinet’, The Back Loft, Dublin, Ireland
  • ‘Play for Today’, Cavan, Ireland
  • VISIT Open Studios, Pallas, Dublin, Ireland
  • ‘Castle (Squared)’, Ardigallan Castle, Co. Dublin
  • ‘Untold’, Sassoon Gallery, London, England
  • VISIT Open Studios, Pallas, Dublin, Ireland

 

EXHIBITIONS