biography.
Born in St. Andrews, O’Donnell is an award-winning Scottish painter currently working on the series of paintings, 'Surface BPM'. After 18 years of professional practice in Northern Norway, she now has studios in Spain and Scotland.
With a Masters in Contemporary European Fine Art, she is an accomplished lecturer, recently being invited to talk at The Department of Arts and Humanities, New York University, Abu Dhabi (NYUAD).
As a curator and parallel with her own art practice, she spent five years as Director of Galleri NordNorge, the Gallery of Northern Norway, collaborating with museums and galleries such as the National Museum of Art in Oslo, showing work by Paul McCarthy, Norway 10 Designers and established international artists, while providing a platform to emerging. She has many years of experience on the boards of industrial, commercial and creative organizations such as NNBK (North Norwegian Artists’ Union), Innovasjon Norge's Creative Development Project, and as President of Fundación Sierra de Libar in Spain. Sitting on collection committees of Sparebank1 NN Art Foundation and art consultant for KORO, Norway's department of art for acquisitions in architecture, she has had the honour to commission artwork and contribute to advancing the careers of Norwegian artists.
Works are in major collections including The Scottish Office, North Norwegian Museum of Art, and The Norwegian Arts Council Collection. Recent exhibitions include a.topos International Curatorial Collective, Venice and Brussels Art Exhibition, Belgium with Monat Gallery, Madrid. In-depth articles and interviews are featured in contemporary magazines including ART Habens Review and Art Reveal Contemporary Art.
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS 2024
Duo Show. Roanne O'Donnell and Charlene Scott, Upright Gallery, Edinburgh, 25 May-14 June 2024
Upright Gallery Show, Edinburgh Festival, August 2024
RECENT PROJECTS AND EXHIBITIONS (2017 - )
The Holy Art. 'MOTION'. London, New York, Athens, 2024
XXIV Certamen De Pintura Acor Castilla y León 24, Sociedad Cooperativa General Agropecuaria ACOR, Spain 2023
New York University, Abu Dhabi. Artist Talk 'Process As Subject in Contemporary Painting.
An Artist’s Perspective (Limitation, restriction, repetition, duplication)' 2023
New York University, Abu Dhabi. Class 'Inner Monologue. Outer Dialogue'.
Dürer. Gutai Group. Abramović. Hansen. 2023
Research Paper, 'Limitation, Repetition, Movement, Momentum in Surface BPM', 2023
Fundación Pedro Cano de Blanca, Blanca, Spain 2022
50 Concurso Internacional de Pintura Villa de Fuente Álamo, Murcia, Spain 2022
The Way, Albe Art Gallery St. Petersburg, Russia 2022
VII Concurso de Artes Plásticas Dcoop (Sociedad Cooperativa Andaluza), Antequera, Spain 2022
Brussels Art Exhibition, Belgium with Monat Gallery, Madrid 2021
Contemporary British Painting | Exhibition 2021
COCA Project 2021, 'Artist Stories', COCA | Center Of Contemporary Artists, Rome 2021
The Creative Room, 'Outside the Window Looking Within' a.topos International Curatorial Collective, Palazzo Dona Brusa, Venice 2021
The Enduring Legend of Experience, UFOFABRIK Contemporary Art at Madrid International Art Fai 2021
VIII Internacional Museo Virtual Mundoarte 2021
Trento Art Festival, Trentino, Italy 2021
Realities in the Making, International Artists Exhibition, Rossocinabro Contemporary Art, Rome 2021
Xxiv Certamen De Pintura Indalecio Hernández Vallejo Xxiv, Valencia de Alcántara, Cáceres, Spain 2020
Giornata del Contemporaneo, 'A Plural Identity', Associazione dei Musei d’Arte Contemporanea Italiani with Rossocinabro, Rome 2020
Xxvii Biennal De Pintura Vila De Paterna 2020, Gran Teatre Antonio Fernandis, Valencia, Spain 2020
Il Tempo, Casa Cava, Matero, Italy 2020
The Verona Art Prize, UFOFABRIK Contemporary Art Gallery, Moena, Italy 2020
Xxxiv Concurso De Pintura Sanvisens Y Pere Jou, Sitges, Spain 2020
Textured, Envision Arts Gallery, International online Group Show 2020
LOST, Lacuna Festival De Arte Lanzarote and Festival De Arte Fuerteventura, Spain 2020
Lost and Found Booth, Curator, Kim-Ling Morris, Lacuna Festival de Arte, Spain 2020
Outside the Form, FAB 2020, Fringe Arts Bath Contemporary Art Festival, Bath, UK 2020
Colours, Grey Cube Gallery, International Online Gallery 2020
AFTNHS, Artists for the NHS, Covid19, Gallery Different, London 2020
Supporting The Arts 2021. online exhibition, UK 2021
Post, Curatorial Response to Covid-19, UK 2020
SELF Group Show, The Artists Pool, Dundas Street Gallery, Edinburgh 2020
Housekeeping!, Group Show, Jeannie Avent Gallery, London 2020
Black and White, Group Show. Pineapple Black Arts Gallery, Middlesborough UK, 2019-2020
Surface Work. Solo Show. Toro Spacio, Ronda, Spain 2018
BLOW. Collaboration with Claire Carswell MA(RCA), Toro Spacio, Ronda, Spain 2018
Surface Work Solo Show. Antigua Cine, Montejaque, Spain 2017
RECENT LECTURES
New York University, Abu Dhabi (NYUAD)
The Department of Arts and Humanities
Artist Talk: Process as Subject in Contemporary Painting. An Artist’s Perspective (Limitation, Restriction, Repetition, Duplication)
Class Title: Self -portrait. Inner Monologue. Outer Dialogue.
Dürer. Gutai Group. Abramović. Hansen.
PUBLICATIONS
The Huts Magazine, Issue 4. 'Unveil' 2022
RAW. 'Artist Tomorrow' A reasoned and shared proposal on the art currently in circulation in Europe,
Rome Art Week Magazine, Edition 7 2022
Round Lemon Art Collective Artist Talk | Roanne O’Donnell 2021
The FLUX Review, Art, Culture and World Exploration Magazine, Edition 2 2020
Art Reveal Contemporary Art Magazine, Edition 53. 2020
ART Habens Art Review, Article on Surface Work, Edition Spring 2020
RESET// Contemporary Art Platform, UK, Interview and featured article, April 2020
Artist Showcase with New Emergence Art 2020
GALLERY REPRESENTATION
Gallery M&Art, Ystad, Sweden
AWARDS
Shortlisted for VI Certamen Internacional de Pintura “Manuel Ángeles Ortiz” Jaén, Spain
Shortlisted for Xxvii Biennal De Pintura Vila De Paterna
Shortlisted for XX Concurso Nacional de Pintura Villa de Sotillo
Shortlisted Xxxiv Concurso De Pintura Sanvisens Y Pere Jou
Shortlisted for Xxiv Certamen De Pintura Indalecio Hernández Vallejo Xxiv
Norwegian State Stipend for Professional Artists, Norsk kulturråd Arts Council Norway
Norwegian State Material Award, Norsk kulturråd Arts Council Norway Oslo, Norway
Awarded Cross Gates Gallery Award, Kentucky, USA and Mall Galleries, London
Awarded Fiera del Levante Prize, ‘Artists in Puglia’. Bari, Italy
COLLECTIONS
Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum, (North Norwegian Museum of Art) Tromsø, Norway
The Scottish Office Collection, Edinburgh, Scotland
Roman Catholic Dioses of Edinburgh Collection, Scotland
Harstad Kommune Art Collection (Council of Harstad), Norway
Edinburgh College of Art, Collection, Scotland
MEMBERSHIP. PROFESSIONAL ART ORGANISATIONS
Scottish Artists Union, Scotland, UK
uavA. (Unión de Artistas Visuales de Andalucía), Spain
OTHER SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
Horizontal Works. Solo Show, Galleri Nordaførr, Bodø, Norway
Horizontal. Solo Show, Galleri NordNorge, Gallery of Northern Norway, Harstad, Norway
Furness/Moen/O’Donnell/Skotnes. Tromsø Kunstforening, Tromsø, Norway
Den 7. Tromsutstillinga (7. Troms Region Art Exhibition), Tromsø, Norway
Transatlantic Connections, Society Of Scottish Artists, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
Solo Show, Southampton University, Faculty of Arts Dept., Southampton
Cheltenham and Gloucester Drawing Show, Berlin | Hull
Group Show, Can Felipa, Barcelona, Spain
Art on the Rock, Stirling Castle, Stirling
Celtic Conexion. Euskal Extea, Centre Cultural, Barcelona, Spain
British Workhouse Gallery, Dallas, Texas, USA
Scottish Contemporary Painters and Printmakers Exhibition, Edinburgh
Beatrice Royal Contemporary Art Gallery, Southampton
Grandisca. Group show, Museo Nuova Era, Bari and La Spezia, Italy
Scottish Painters Group Show. Frontiers Gallery, Edinburgh
Incontri d’Arte. Group Show, Guild Gallery, Bristol
New Works. Solo Show. Galleria Panorama, Barcelona, Spain
New Works in Architecture. Solo Show. Cloister Gallery, Bristol
Artist-in-Residence, Clifton College, Bristol
Doric Work. Solo Show, Studio Gallery, Edinburgh
Solo Show. Loretto Gallery, Musselburgh, Scotland
New Works. Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (R.I.A.S.), Edinburgh
Facade. Solo Show, Hillside Gallery, Edinburgh
Incontri D’Arte. Group Show, Bari, Italy
New Generation Show. Mercury Gallery. London
professional cv.
A rich and impactful career embracing visual arts, creative industries, executive-level business development, project management, and board governance in freelance, entrepreneurial, and corporate capacities. Currently a studio based visual artist, exhibiting internationally while providing my expertise as a consultant and lecturer on a contractual basis.
PRESIDENT OF FUNDACIÓN SIERRA DE LIBAR
Montejaque, Spain (remote and on-site voluntary position)
July 2017 - ongoing
The Fundación Sierra de Libar is a non-profit foundation, based in Montejaque, Andalusia, Spain.
Undertake presidential obligations in a non-remunerated capacity for this non-profit organisation which contributes to the Historical, Cultural and Ethnographic Heritage of the Sierra de Libar within the
UNESCO Grazalema Biosphere Reserve.
EXPERT EVALUATOR FOR EIT CULTURE & CREATIVITY
Remote
April 2023 - ongoing
Lead a team in strategic evaluation for the allocation of 250,000 euros each toward cutting-edge projects and innovations aligned with European and global objectives of harnessing new technology and creativity, leading to sustainable value creation and growth for Europe's Green, Digital and Social Transformation. Provided meticulous reports to drive informed decision-making.
GALLERY DIRECTOR | CURATOR
Galleri NordNorge, Harstad, Norway
Sept 2012 - Aug 2017
Crafted the strategic policy for the gallery and oversaw its daily operations, elevating its visibility and introducing national and international art and artists to audiences in North Norway. Curated 30 exhibitions and established key collaborations with prestigious institutions such as Nasjonalmuseet in Oslo, Festspillene i Nord Norge Arts Festival and government departments, to enhance artistic engagement and cultural exchange.
FOUNDER AND CEO of A:RT GYMSAL A.S.
Harstad, Norway
Nov 2004 - July 2016
Transformed and rejuvenated a Grade 1 Heritage Listed former military gymnasium, Protecting it's Cultural Heritage. Through acquisition and redevelopment, innovatively integrating a two-story glass building within the structure and leased 10 studios to creative enterprises, fostering a vibrant business community and winning national awards for ingenuity and inclusion. Initiated negotiations for property acquisition with banking institutions, secured essential clearances, certificates, and governmental approvals. Oversaw a team comprising architects, clerks of work and contractors, ensuring seamless collaboration for timely project completion. Crafted and implemented comprehensive financial and marketing strategies, shaping operational policies and budgets.
AWARDS
Harstad Profileringspool. ‘Seire ved å dele-prisen’ (Success Through Sharing Prize) 2007
Harstad Sparebank Kulturpris (Bank of Harstad Culture Prize) 2007
Rotary CLub of Harstad Building Preservation Prize 2011
LECTURER AND SYLLABUS CREATOR IN VISUAL ART FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Kunstrom 7 (Art Room 7) Trastad Samlinger, Norway | Sør-Troms Museum, Norway
Sept 2010 - Sept 2013
Designed and led a comprehensive syllabus for a three-year undergraduate program tailored for students with special needs, facilitating their development in visual arts for professional practice.
DEPARTMENT HEAD FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC CONSERVATION
Sør-Troms Museum, Norway
Sept 2009 - Sept 2012
Department Head, responsible for leading department staff and managing the museum's extensive collection of photographic material. The position also entailed curating exhibitions, book and publication design, and illustration.
LECTURER AND SYLLABUS CREATOR, DRAWING, PAINTING, ART HISTORY AND CONTEMPORARY THEORY
Nordland kunst- og filmfagskole, Kabelvåg, North Norway
Nov 1999 - Jun 2006
Crafted the syllabus for an undergraduate program encompassing drawing, painting, art history, and theory. Delivered classes and lectures, guiding students in the expansion of perspectives in content, methods, techniques, and creative processes within the visual arts. collaborated with artists, filmmakers and theoreticians from across the Nordic countries and Europe.
EXECUTIVE BOARD POSITIONS
Chairman, Foundation Sierra de Libar, Spain. 2015 - present.
Board Member for Creative Development Project, Innovasjon Norge, Norway 2013 - 2017
Board Member, Sparebank1 Nord Norge (Savings Bank) Art Foundation, Norway 2012 - 2016
Board Member, Harstad Regional Chamber of Commerce, Norway 2006 - 2009
Board Member, Kunskapsparken Nord (Knowledge Park North), Norway 2006 - 2008
Member of Selection Committee/Art Consultant, Bø i Vesterålen Hospital, Straumen, Norway 2004 - 2006
Board Member Nordnorske Billende Kunstnere (Professional Artists Union) Norway 2001 - 2006
Board Member, Festspillene I Nord-Norge (Festival of Arts), Norway 2003 - 2008
Member of Advisory Board, Festspillene I Nord-Norge (Festival of Arts), Norway 2003 - 2006
Curator ILIOS Festivalen (Anual Festival of Contemporary Music), Harstad Norway 2001
LANGUAGES
English (native), Scots (native), Norwegian (fluent), Spanish (conversational)