Irish POP artist Orla Walsh has officially launched her new series, Atelier Walsh: The Art of Fashion. Reimagining classic fashion prints through an Irish lens, the new six-piece collection is a reinterpretation of brand icons.
Walsh is displaying her pieces at Art Source - Ireland's largest art fair - which is taking place from 14 - 16 November, and is expected to draw more than 15,000 people to the RDS.
When we speak, the artist is hiding in her car to avoid interruptions as old friends and fellow artists pour into the venue to set up their wares.
"Sorry, people keep walking by and waving at me," she laughs. "I've turned my back, I'm facing inwards and staring down at the coffee cups!"
Best known for her bold and witty depictions of well-known brands, Walsh had an almost unbelievable start to her career.
During her maternity leave from a graphic design agency, her husband encouraged her to take up painting, as she had always been "mad into it" from a young age.
Drawn to bold and bright muses, she found herself painting the glossy reds of Heinz ketchup bottles, which she eventually displayed on the gates of Stephen's Green to try and sell.
In a bizarre twist of fate, a corporate lawyer representing Heinz Ireland walked by and informed her that she was infringing copyright by painting their product without permission.
Thankfully, the lawyer took Walsh's contact details, and was in touch before long to say that Heinz would like to purchase all of her pieces to hang in their boardroom.
"It's the most bizarre thing," she muses. "It was pure luck that she was there that day. They were my first six paintings, I hadn't sold any, so to be caught at that early stage and have a corporate brand buy them - especially when you thought they were going to sue you!"
"I never knew about IP - intellectual property - and stuff like that," she adds, "but you can't paint somebody's product, they own it. If they're happy for you to paint it, though, it's brilliant."
Getting in touch with brands ahead of time, Walsh went on to create distinctly Irish prints, featuring Tayto, Siúcra, Kerrygold, Sudocrem, and many more international images reminiscent of the 80s and 90s.
Today, though, she is reimagining these classic brands as high-fashion prints that could sit alongside the likes of Chanel and Vogue.
The idea led to a Guinness Lipstick, Barry's Tea trousers, a Kerrygold handbag, and a Tayto shoe. The style of the prints was inspired by existing high-fashion prints as well as the magazines and comics of her teenage years.
"I was a mad Bunty girl, and The Four Marys," she says. "I would always cut out Bunty and the paper clothes and the little bags. When I sat down to do this, I thought that style lended itself to the niche, retro look. I just thought it was cute!"
The reaction, she says, has been "so sweet", with people rushing to share their memories of their own childhoods and experiences.
"I love anything that is retro," she explains. "I think it resonates with Irish people somehow. It's having a moment, people are really loving their Irish brands."
Her favourite part of capturing these icons is discovering the stories behind them.
Whether it's realising that the distinctly American-looking chewing gum, Bazooka, was in fact made in Co. Cork, or uncovering the many love stories that came about from the creation of Loveheart sweets.
"Years ago, people who worked in the factory used to send personalised ones down the line," she explains. "I think they ended up with like 60 romances."
In fact, according to Swizzels Matlow, the Derbyshire factory became known as "The Factory of Love", with approximately 122 employees finding love on the production line.
With a stall to set up, signs to hang, and many artists to chat to, we wrapped up our conversation by discussing the lessons Walsh has learned in her storied career.
What, if anything, could she recommend to the up-and-comers landing in to Art Source for the first time?
"It's really, really difficult, especially if you're showing for the first time," she says. "So don't lose heart [if you don't sell]. Chat to the people who are looking at your work, talk to them. Then, walk around the exhibition and get a feel for the different art that's there.
"Talk to the other artists because there is a wealth of knowledge in the person exhibiting next to you."
