Meet the Collective
Jarlath Tourish is a renowned tattoo and visual artist with over a decade of professional experience. He is the proud owner of West End Art Collective, a unique custom tattoo studio and art gallery that showcases the works of various talented visual artists.
From a young age, Jarlath has been deeply passionate about art, dedicating his life to honing his skills in various mediums. His journey as a tattoo artist spans ten years, during which he has garnered numerous awards for his exceptional tattoo art. His work is known for pushing the boundaries of perception, often incorporating geometry and psychedelic visuals to provoke thought and inspire awe.
In addition to tattooing, Jarlath enjoys exploring other artistic avenues such as painting, airbrushing, and pyrography (wood burning). His philosophy, "Creativity is life," reflects his belief that people are at their happiest and most evolved when they are creating. This guiding principle is evident in all his artistic endeavors, where he aims to evoke deep emotions and reflections in those who experience his work.
Outside of his professional life, Jarlath cherishes time spent with his wife Maeve and their two children, Aria and Willow. His hobbies include creating art and immersing himself in nature, where he finds endless inspiration for his work.
For more about Jarlath's work or to inquire about collaborations, please visit West End Art Collective or contact him directly at weacjatonaccitattoos@gmail.com or 0830108157
Ross Green was born in Scotland but has resided in Ireland for the last thirteen years. Currently based in Galway, he primarily works in pen and ink to produce large-scale pieces inspired by dreams, psychology and the natural world.
Oscillation is a sound installation by Conor Maloney in collaboration with Galway-based musician and artist, John Conneely. Conor is an audiovisual artist with Type 1 Bipolar Disorder (BP-I), and the art piece aims to explore the relationship between manic episodes and cognitive dysfunction, as well as to convey a sense of the experience of the ups and downs of BP-I in general.
Conor consulted with Dr Dave Plans and Dr Toby Wise about the nature of BP-I and the impact of manic episodes on the brain. The piece consists of a cassette player running (and thereby destroying) a tape loop over sandpaper. The tape is playing vocal samples recorded by Conor which describe his symptoms.
The motor speed of the cassette player is controlled by a bipolar low-frequency oscillator (LFO), a repeating electronic signal that oscillates from a positive to negative voltage range, much like the manic/depressive cycle seen in BP-I.
Hi there, my name is Lara Luxardi. I'm an Italian artist who has been calling Galway home since 2010. A great part of my work involves being active in the community—facilitating workshops, organizing after-school art classes, and supporting vulnerable children in school. This community involvement led me to broaden my career into art therapy and psychotherapy, inspired by my deep passion for art and its power to heal and connect.
As an artist, I see art as a powerful language that bridges the gap between the mind and soul. I love illustration because it allows me to tell stories of belonging and shared memories, exploring our relationship with the environment and the soul of its people.
One of my favourite techniques is cyanotype, a photosensitive iron-salt based process that creates beautiful cyan-blue impressions of objects and negatives. I often use multiple exposures, layering photographs, illustrations, and natural elements like seaweed and leaves. Each artwork is unique, telling its own story through the random interplay of nature, water, sunlight, and time.
On average, humans spend about one third of their lives asleep. Why? Like most important but complex questions, scientists have several explanations for this and continue to explore theories and conduct experiments to understand this biological phenomenon. Prof. Russell Foster studies the role of light in synchronising the body’s daily rhythms, and the link between sleep and health.
Joe Westcott drew on these two aspects of Russell’s research to inform and inspire his Mindscapes artworks about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern, more often occurring during the Winter months when exposure to light is reduced.
Joe expresses the adverse effects of ‘Time Blindness’ through his ceramic sculpture of a slouched rabbit – blindfolded and thus prevented from accessing light. Two further rabbit sculptures capture the dejection felt from social dismissal and withdrawal associated with depression. Through colour and configuration, Joe’s works tell us how a lack of light and sleep can make us feel.
Chanti Leisenhoff, originally hailing from Germany, has made her home in Galway for the past eight years. Passionate about her craft, she now dedicates herself full-time to creating handmade crochet clothing. Chanti finds her greatest joy in the rhythmic process of crochet, producing each piece with care and precision. Specializing in handmade organic clothing, she weaves her love for sustainability into every stitch, crafting beautiful, eco-friendly garments one knot at a time. Additionally, Chanti collaborates with other visual artists, incorporating her intricate crochet work into paintings, blending textiles and art in unique and innovative ways.
Elena Dova was born in Turin, North Italy. She graduated from the School of Art in Turin but chose to follow her passion for Cinema and Sound which brought her to work in Rome as sound designer at the post-production studio Technicolor. Elena has been living in Galway since 2013 and this city has welcomed her from the start giving her the opportunities and is now her home. She made three solo exhibitions in Galway Town Hall and many pieces through the years were part of different events like the International Cúirt Art Festival.
Her artworks explore every time different concept and themes. She describe her most recent work “The Lost Folklore: “In every painting there is a hidden message, a symbol, a call to different cultures. The culture is the leading thread into a crossroads of their hidden and forgotten traditions, which invite the viewer to re-find them or simply enjoy”. (Elena Dova – 2024)
Elena is currently part of the West End Art-Collective where she shares her art and helps with the organisation of other events.
DevOps Engineer by day, artist by night, Von Coppinger is an artist based in Co. Galway. She has been working on a collection of oil paintings of her various pop culture inspirations since 2017 using the theme of “I paint the things I want to see.” She has also created solo acrylic Gelli prints and created acrylic pouring works as part of the duo Infinity Pours. Von has been a member of West End Art Collective since 2022 and displayed works in exhibitions with West End Art Collective and Beechmount Art Studio.
Keith is an artist from Galway known for his imaginative and weird creations. His work transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, blending bold colors and intricate details. As one half of Infinity Pours, Keith captivates art enthusiasts with his works. Also known as ITFellOver for his old hacker handle and music, which you can find on any streaming service, he is an IT professional by day. Tech-centered, he uses AI to bring his thoughts into visual form. He invites viewers into fantastical worlds, inspiring wonder and curiosity with each weird piece. Keith has been a member of West End Art Collective since 2022 and displayed works in exhibitions with West End Art Collective.
