Ann Henderson’s practice focuses on the evidence of the passage of time and as such the inextricable processes of growth and decay are central. Appropriating Merlin Sheldrake’s description of mycelial networks, the practice “is better thought of not as a thing, but as a process – an exploratory, irregular tendency.” Within this Ann makes no deliberate differentiation between the artist’s manifest response and the artefacts of these natural processes. Material and artist are equally active, equally bound by impermanence.
She finds herself forever following pathways within time, as well as within space – forever collecting, ordering and refactoring both thought and material. All of this escapes the studio, and ebbs back and forth between the domestic and the world beyond. Material, body, landscape, and thinking meld indeterminately – metamorphosing, time and time again.
Ann is committed to ongoing investigation into our human relationship with the natural world, seeing human relations as part of, not apart from, the larger natural community. She is convinced that this most fundamental of interconnects is inseparable from the human spiritual component. Both solitary endeavour and collaboration with others are crucial for Ann with her practice. One of her central aims, in an ever more passive, conformist and consumption-centric society, is to provide an energised space for experimentation, interrogation and response – conversation and exchange playing fundamental roles within the process.
Fungal Learning Research Project, Irish Design Week, Uni Ulster, Belfast 2025
Under the Sofa Orange 6th Feb 25 – ongoing/ Insured 18th Feb 25 – ongoing DIY Fungi – ongoing
All images Ann Henderson
Fungal Learning research project, May 24 – Aug 25, Future Island Island initiative, collaborating with artist Vanya Lambrecht, naturalist Hazel Watson and fungi
King Oyster Intimacies – All images Ann Henderson
“Dust”
Solo Exhibition
Curator Naomi Draper
Nov 22- Jan 23, Roscommon Arts Centre, Ireland
All images Ann Henderson
please keep scrolling down
Click on title Dust | Ann Henderson below for:
“Dust” film by Padraig Cunningham
Text response to Dust “Recordings” by writer Jenny Taylor
“Isolated Findings”
March 2020 – ongoing
instagram @annartisthenderson
“Virtually There”
2007 – 2022
15 year artist-in-virtual-residence
with Kids’ Own Publishing, Ireland
In 2006, I approached Orla Kenny, Creative Director of Kids’ Own Publishing (Ireland) with an idea, which would enable me as an artist practising on Rathlin Island and mother to two young children, to continue developing the collaborative aspects of my work.
At the time it was unusual (remembering these were the days of talking via phone, maybe even Skype when not face to face) and to be honest almost against my own grain as a visual artist to be bringing this idea to Orla – of collaborating virtually from the studio.
Orla and I invested a lot of time developing how we could approach this together as arts body and artist and in 2007 Kids’ Own launched a virtual, year long, pilot project at Ballydown Primary School (Co Down, Northern Ireland). Orla and Kids’ Own directed and managed the project, which became known as ”Virtually There”. I had the incredible luxury as an artist of working collaboratively with project-teacher-partners Judith White and Julie Orr/Brown and their respective P2 and P5 pupils, for an ongoing period of 15 years.
Ten years on, in 2014, Orla and Kids’ Own curated and published the “Virtually There” book including 9 artists and school partnerships.
Visit bookstore at https://kidsown.ie/
The following photographs are selected from portions of my own practice within the “Virtually There” book and incorporate “solo” work and/or the collaborative processes I undertook with Judith, Julie and P2 and P5 pupils at Ballydown Primary School.
Above image-sequence credits
1. “Cauliflower Cross Section”, Ann Henderson, 2012
Artist’s ‘solo’ practice preceding the “Dismantle”project phase of collaborative work
Cauliflower, entomology pins, archival paper, mites
2. “A Virtual Practice” Ann Henderson, 2014
3. Artist’s ‘solo’ practice studio processes, 2009
Materials list: Food-waste celery base, cottonwool, water, photography, artist- Ann Henderson
4. “Time, growth and potatoes” project phase, 2009-10
Online-whiteboard screenshots, collaborative drawing
P2 pupils, project-partner-teacher Judith White, Ann Henderson
5. “Time, growth and potatoes” project phase, 2009-10
Online-whiteboard screenshots, collaborative drawing
P2 pupils, project-partner-teacher Judith White, Ann Henderson
6. “Dismantle” project phase 2012-13
“Dismantle Drawing”, Katie P2 pupil; Cherry tomato, pencil, paper
7. “Dismantle” project phase 2012-13
“50 Ways to Dismantle a Cherry Tomato” Drawing
P2 pupils, teacher Judith white, Ann Henderson
8. Dismantling processes
“Dismantling Drawing”; Banana, OHP, teacher Julie Orr, P5 pupils
9. “Seeing” project phase, 2010-11 Ground covering explorations – whiteboard conversations
P2 pupils, teacher Judith White, Ann Henderson
10. “Seeing” project phase, 2010-11 Whiteboard conversations
“Soft in the Grass” Adam, P2 pupil
About Ann – Artist/mother, “blow-in” to Rathlin Island 1998!
Practising as an artist since 1990
Solo Exhibitions
“Dust” curated by Naomi Draper, by Roscommon Arts Centre, Nov – Jan 23
“Inner Matter”, Gallery Gallery, Kyoto 95
“The Fat of the Land”, (first solo show) supported by The British Council, Gallery Sudo, Tokyo, 93
Projects
“Fungal Learning” research project, collaborating with artist Vanya Lambrecht, naturalist Hazel Watson and fungi! A Future Island Island initiative, May 23 – Aug 24
“Virtually There”, 15 year artist-in-virtual-residence, studio to classroom, project-partner teachers, Judith White and Julie Orr/Brown, and their P2 and P5 pupils, Ballydown P.School, N.Ireland. Ann developed initial project in collaboration with Orla Kenny of Kids’ Own, Ireland, 2006
anothermetre.com online project, – one artist, one metre, one year. July 11 to 12 (Please go to year one in website for main content)
“Artist on an Island” – one year on Rathlin Island, Artist’s CD Rom Project – sponsored by Suffolk County Council, Mar 98-May 2000
International Conferences – presenting artist
“The Best, Next and Radical Practice in Participatory Arts” ITAC3-International Teaching Artists Conference, co-presenting with “Virtually There” teacher Judith White, Edinburgh for Kids’ Own
(see https://vimeo.com/180599761 for response video by artist Adrienne Riseley)
“PRIO 0-18 Children’s Right to Art”, with teacher J White, for Kids’ Own, Sweden 2017
“”Moteplass kunst”-“Considering different ways for artists and young people to engage in the arts together”, Co-presenting with Virtually There project teacher, J White for Kids’Own, 2017
Group Exhibitions
“Fungal Learning”, Uni of Ulster, Belfast, Irish Design Week, Nov 25
“Encountering the Arts” IMMA Chapel, solo installation and live virtual work
“Virtually There” national Touring Exhibition -Highlanes Gallery, The Dock, The Void, FE MCWilliam, Jan 14 – Jan 15
“Practice – What connects the artist’s individual practice to their work with children?, National Touring Exhibition, West Cork Arts Centre (at this venue also included live virtual work “Goings-On”, Axis Ballymun, Dublin, The Model, Sligo. All of the above with Kid’s Own Publishing
‘Boglands’, Hague, Netherlands, Kilkenny, Irish Life Centre Dublin, Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast, Symposium Exhibition with VAI
Artists’ Mentoring
2008-ongoing
“Four Seasons in our Garden” (Environment, Climate, Community project) Oct 23 – ongoing “Virtually There” 2010-19, “The Nature of SlIgo”, “Bridging the Gap”, Kids’ Own Publishing projects, Ireland
“Puppet Portal Project” Phases 1&2, health contexts throughout Ireland, using technology, Helium Arts
Guest Artist
UU Undergraduates Residency with Brian Connolly, Ballintoy 07
Seika University, Seian College of Art and Design, Kyoto and Saga University, Japan
Teaching
UU undergraduates while taking Post Grad Applied Art
“Ag Togail ar bPobal”, Creative Stone Masons’ Course for Oideas Gael, The Ulster Cultural Centre, Co Donegal, Ireland. Responsible for course content and delivery. Jan 95-Dec 96
Research
Significant-artist-contributor within, 4 year action research programme into Virtually There – “Open Space publication by Dr Bryonie Reid
BA / Post Graduate in Applied Arts, University of Ulster, Belfast 1984-92
Ann Henderson 