Rug Art Auction

A group of twelve leading artists have united to design rugs for a creative and colourful charity rug exhibition and auction, spearheaded by Irish brand Ceadogán Rugmakers and the Hang Tough Contemporary in Dublin. 

Brainchild of the creative directors of Ceadogán, Colm Kenny and Martina Navrátilová, the ambitious project is titled ‘Island’ and will feature one-off hand-tufted rugs or wall hanging pieces by artists: Gottfried Helnwein, Dorothy Cross, Sean Scully, Maser, Domino Whisker, Gilbert Menassa, Hannah Ní Mhaonaigh, Mary O’Connor, Colm Mac Athlaoich, Sean Atmos, Lola Donoghue and Alice Fitzgerald. The unique designs are to go on show at Hang Tough Contemporary in Dublin on Thursday 26 January. If you cannot make the show you can see the rugs and bid for them online at Whyte’s Auctions here. 

Ceadogán’s Martina Navrátilová comments: ‘Island is an incredibly exciting opportunity to witness some of the most celebrated Irish artists come together and showcase their immense creativity through a medium rarely seen. Ceadogán Rugmakers are proud to offer this unique artistic experience, having always embraced collaboration with those leading in Ireland’s art world. This is your chance to see these extraordinary creators push past boundaries, and for collectors, an opportunity to own a one-of-a-kind piece of Irish art whilst also supporting two very worthy causes.’

On 5 February the physical show will come to an end and the online auction will close at 2pm . The artworks are expected to fetch between €1,500-€16,000 each with profits from the sale being split between the Peter McVerry Trust in aid of homelessness and For the Birds, a regenerative project at the site of Ceadogán studios on Bannow Bay, Co. Wexford.

Colm Kenny explains: ‘We are passionate about creating a sustainable production process for our rugs and using farmland to achieve this goal. Towards that end, we have made prototypes with various materials like alpaca wool from Loop Head Alpacas in West Clare as well as hemp and wool. Encouraged by these results, the For the Birds project aims to take things further: introducing regenerative techniques on-site while also exploring ways of setting up a small scale mill so that yarns can be spun right there at home. It’s an exciting project which will help us create unique pieces while supporting and creating wildlife habitat and biodiversity.’

See more about the project in the next issue of COVER, out in March.