Irena Keckes earned Ph.D. in Fine Arts degree from Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland, New Zealand (2015). She received MFA in printmaking from Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan (2005), and BA in Art Education from the Academy of Fine Arts, University of Zagreb, Croatia (2000). Irena’s practice includes large-scale monochrome woodcuts, print installations and collaborative print media practices. Irena’s artwork has been exhibited internationally in many groups and independent exhibitions, with the recent solo show Never Ending Story was presented in Croatia, 2022. Irena exhibited in group shows in Croatia, Austria, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom, Canada, USA, Mexico, Argentina, India, Bangladesh, China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Guam. She presented artwork and academic papers at major international printmaking events and conferences, including IMPACT 12 International Printmaking Conference in Bristol (2022), UK, IMPACT 11 International Printmaking Conference in IMPACT in Hong Kong (2021), IPMACT 10 in Santander, Spain (2018), IMPACT 9 in Hangzhou, China (2015), and IPMACT 8 in Dundee, Scotland (2013). Irena also participated in SGCI international printmaking conference in Atlanta (2017), SGCI in Las Vegas (2018), and SGCI in Portland USA (2016), 4th IMC International Mokuhanga Conference in Nara, Japan (2021), 3rd IMC in Hawaii (2017) and 2nd IMC in Tokyo, Japan (2014). Since 2015, Irena is an Associate Professor of Art at College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at University of Guam.

 

Website: www.irenakeckes.wix.com/irenaart

Instagram: www.instagram.com/irena_keckes/

Artist page: www.facebook.com/irenakeckesprintmaking 

Email: keckes.irena@gmail.com

 

Prints I created for Indigo Blue: Sacred Wisdom of Our Islands and Ocean, a collaborative exhibition with National Taitung University, Taiwan at The Guam Museum from June 6-10, 2023, reflect movement of ocean, waves, and undersea world. Artworks titled Undersea Poem #1, #2 and #3 are created in linocut printmaking method, while prints titled Indigo Blue #1 and #2 are in woodcut printing method. All five artworks are hand printed on fabric by use of baren and wooden spoon. I used purple, indigo blue, and yellow ink, and all prints are sewn with turquoise thread, to reflect flowing, rhythmical movement of ocean and undersea poetic, whimsical colors.