The rock that hurt you, Was the rock that opened a nut Vanessa Donoso López
Friday 17 April - Saturday 23 May 2026
Launch: Fri 17 April, 5pm
The way we interact with the soil, clay, rocks and stones beneath us, whether with attention, care, or neglect, shapes our understanding of the world and our place within it.
Through this lens, this installation explores themes of migration, displacement, and cultural identity, asking how these elements, under our feet, can offer grounding in the face of upheaval. The materials in this installation; wild clay, plaster, pigments, bear the marks of transformation. Through the repetitive act of object-making, these forms, simultaneously fragile and enduring, tell stories of resilience, adaptation, and connection that transcend individual journeys, embedding presence and meaning into new environments.
In a world where migrant journeys often oscillate between physical dislocation and virtual connection, the creation and experience of physical objects provides an anchor to the real. These pieces, reminiscent of ancient artefacts or relics, serve as tangible markers of belonging and cultural heritage, bridging the past, present, and highlighting the lasting impact of our actions on future generations.
A reminder that, like a rock that can wound or serve, the choices we make ripple outward, shaping our connection to the natural world and the legacies we leave behind.
About the Artist
Vanessa Donoso López (born Barcelona, Spain) is based in Dublin. Vanessa studied Fine Arts at the University of Barcelona, the School of Arts and Design Llotja, Barcelona and the Winchester College of Art, UK.
Selected solo exhibitions include: Temple Bar Gallery, Dublin (2026), Lexicon Gallery, Dún Laoghaire (2025); Kevin Kavanagh Gallery, Dublin (2011, 2022, 2023); Galeria Herrero de Tejada, Madrid (2021);
Candyland, Stockholm (2017); The LAB, Dublin (2016); Limerick City Gallery (2015).
Public works and collections include: Glucksman Gallery Collection, Arts Council Collection, ‘Graft’ commissioned by Glucksman Gallery and The National Sculpture Factory, Cork, 2022, ‘Day without cars’
commissioned by The City Council Cultural Company, Dublin, 2019, ’The time capsule project’ commissioned by the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, 2017, OPW collection, ’70th anniversary’ commissioned by
IDA, Dublin. 2019.
Recent awards; Vanessa is a recipient of the Arts Council Project Award 2025/26, Arts Council Bursary 2024/2022, Konvent Artist residency award, Barcelona 2025, Leitrim Sculpture Centre Residency award, Leitrim 2025, Cal Gras Residency award, Barcelona 2024, Entorns Art Residency Award, Lleida, 2023, La Rectoria Art Residency Award 2019.
Vanessa has been a member of La Escocesa Art Centre, Barcelona, since 2023, and is currently on a three-year membership at Temple Bar Gallery and Studios, Dublin. Vanessa Is represented by Kevin Kavanagh Gallery, Dublin.
