The LPS is an artist led studio situated in Clane, Co. Kildare, Ireland. Margaret Becker, stained glass artist, printmaker and member of the Graphic Studio in Dublin, along with several other artists, including Jean Dillon, Deirdre Shanley, Eileen Keane, founded the studio in 1998. The studio received initial support for capital expenditure from Kildare Co Council Arts Service and from the Arts Council and has been consistently supported by the Arts Officers, Kildare Co. Council, without whose help the studio could not exist. In order to limit the damage to the environment and to the practitioners the Leinster Printmaking Studio is a ‘safe’ or ‘green’ studio – members strive to use safe and non-toxic materials.
PAST EXHIBITIONS
1999: Lambay House Art Gallery, Howth inaugural exh
2002: Group Exhibition, Tinahealy Arts Centre, Tinahealy, Co Wicklow; Imprint, Exchange Exhibition, The Island Arts Centre in Lurgan and The Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge co-hosted 'Imprint’ an exchange exhibition between the Leinster Printmaking Studio and Seacourt Print Workshop, Bangor, Co. Down. January and May.
2003: Christmas Exhibition, Marron's Court, Clane, Co. Kildare. November; Draíocht Arts Centre, Blanchardstown, Co. Dublin. Group Exhibition.
2004: The Print Show, The Peacock Theatre, Dublin City. Group Exhibition. The Tallaght Civic Theatre, Tallaght, Co. Dublin.
2005: Where Siva Meet Medb. First Travelling exhibition. Explored relationships between Indian and Celtic Mythologies
2007: Alternative Entertainments, Tallaght
2006 - 2012: Le Chéile Print Project
An international collaboration between artists from Wales and the L.P.S. Regional Print Centre in Wrexham,Lucina Russell, Arts Officer for County Kildare, who makes the connection with Leinster Printmaking Studio and Margaret Becker. Residencies in Wales and Cill Rialaig. Exhibitions at: Riverbank 2008; Graphic Gallery 2009; Touring South Austrila 2009- 2011; Rhyll, 2010; Urban Retreat, 2011; Llangefni 2011
2010: Invited to take part in an exhibition in Hong Kong
2010: Bog 50 x 70
an exhibition of prints inspired by the Bog of Allen, curated by Peter Jones and shown in a disused retail unit during the Éigse Festival, Carlow, July. Originally opened in Capel Street. Later opened in Letterfrack
2015: Joyce Exhibition
Celebrating 15 years of Printmaking: Response to “The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man”. Maynooth Castle Keep
2016-18: Little Stories Little Prints
A 1916 Commemorative Visual Arts Project through Printmaking. Almost fifty Printmakers from eight Printmaking studios around Ireland accepted an invitation to participate in the project, which aims to create awareness of little known events or incidents during or around the time of the Easter Rising in 1916. Through a variety of organised events the artists were encouraged to research incidents and aspects of life at the time of the Rising and to create little prints in response to their research. The result is an eclectic mix of interpretations of both the brief and of the artists’ research. There is sure to be plenty of discussion and argument about some of these interpretations. Several talks and visits were arranged and recorded: a talk by Kildare historian-in-residence James Durney, a talk by historian Gerry O'Neill, a visit to and a talk in the National Library of Ireland, a guided tour of the 1916 Room in Collins Barricks several walks around prominent sites of activity in Dublin.
Beginning with an exhibition in the Little Museum of Dublin, St Stephen’s Green, the project toured libraries in Kildare and Dublin City as well as venues around the country throughout 2016. The exhibition was accompanied in most venues by a workshop for adults and/or children.
2017: Duanaire
Based on “An Duanaire”, an anthology of Gaelic poetry from 1600 to 1900, Cross Gallery and Summer school in the Glenties
2018: 20th Anniversary Exhibition
Iniscarra, Kilcock.; Bally Croy National Park; Lexicon Dún Laoghaire.
2019: LPS Responds to... Séamus Heaney
Exhibition of Prints: Etchings, Screenprint, Carborundum, Drypoint, Lino and Woodcut, Collagraph. Based on the poetry of Séamus Heaney. Bassano Italy and Lexicon Dún Laoghaire
2019 Interpretations in Printmaking, Kilcock Art Gallery Christmas Exhibition, Curated by Robert Russell
2021: Oidhreacht - Heritage created in 2020-21 and exhibited in Kilcock Art Gallery and Lexicon, Dún Laoghaire, The exhibition was curated by Alice Hanratty.
Heritage has many references. Briefly, it can refer to cultural traditions, language, countryside, historic buildings, historic sites, traditional objects or products including nature, food and crafts, as well as items, physical or non-physical, inherited after the death of an individual. In spite of the difficult circumstances due to the ongoing pandemic restrictions, most members of the Leinster Printmaking studio and some invited guests have produced new work for this beautiful exhibition.
2023: 'Echos' at Kilcock Art Gallery celebrating 25 years of the LPS. Echoing past exhibitions.