Gwen Stevenson Artist | Immersive Art & Durational Performance

About Me

My artistic practice explores themes of impermanence, conflict legacy, and the climate crisis. I am particularly drawn to the intersection of collective memory, personal experience, and the historical context of Northern Ireland, alongside the environmental challenges we face today. Much of my work reflects the ongoing impact of conflict, particularly the loss and grief felt within communities. Through immersive installations, experimental films, and durational performances, I aim to challenge traditional ideas of remembrance and invite new forms of reflection.

Central to my practice is a commitment to community engagement and participatory art projects that respond to the unique needs of each group. I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of art to foster connection, heal trauma, and spark meaningful change.

My most recent project, Memorial/UnMemorial, was a yearlong durational performance reflecting on the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Through such projects, I continue to explore how art can facilitate collective memory and community healing.

Technology plays a vital role in my work as it allows me to challenge traditional notions of art and make it more accessible. I believe art should be available to everyone, regardless of background or resources, and technology provides a platform for that. I see it as a way to engage with pressing issues in real time, creating experiences that invite reflection and dialogue. The potential of immersive art, generative art, and mixed reality offers exciting possibilities for creating interactive experiences that can reach diverse audiences.

My focus on participatory and socially engaged arts has been integral to my practice. Over the years, I have seen how art can deeply impact individuals and communities. Despite challenges like funding cuts and the demand for quick results, I remain committed to the belief that art can drive meaningful change. I focus on long-term, participant-led projects where the people involved have agency in shaping the process and outcome.

I believe in the power of the artist community to support each other. While I enjoy sharing updates of my work on Instagram, I also love seeing what other artists are creating. By showcasing the work of fellow creatives, I hope to foster an inclusive environment where collaboration, inspiration, and mutual support thrive. Please explore my Instagram for updates on my ongoing artistic explorations, projects, and collaborations.

Looking ahead, I plan to continue developing my practice as an immersive arts practitioner. Whether exploring climate grief, collective action, or new ways of reflecting on loss, my work is both a personal exploration and a contribution to broader conversations about our world.

The Monthly Interviews: Community Arts Partnership: June 2024

"I worked with Gwen Stevenson on her amazing exhibition "Infinite Mass". The work was an installation-based sound and sculpture work. Exhibited in 2008, Stevenson created a multi-channel sound installation of seven suspended spherical forms with each form acted as an individual sound source. The entire exhibition space was filled with sounds and the forms moved with human movement. An example of early work and the ideas of audience engagement, this work was visionary in Ireland because the installation was one of the first to consider how the viewer would directly interact with the artwork and the space that surrounds via both their visual and audio senses. I will also add that as a curator, I found Stevenson to be a dream to work with--hard working, receptive and her integrity and commement to working with audiences and others is inspiring. Dr Megan Arney Johnston, Independent curator, museum specialist, and author of "Slow Curating: A Handbook for Socially Engaged Curating", to be published by Routledge UK Museum & Heritage in 2024.

Dr. Megan Arney Johnston, Independent curator, museum specialist, and author of "Slow Curating: A Handbook for Socially Engaged Curating", to be published by Routledge UK Museum & Heritage in 2024.

"I’ve worked with Gwen for over 5 years on the Heart of Living and Dying group process, helping members of the public begin their own advance care planning conversations. Gwen made herself available to the work from inception through implementation and evaluation. Her talent has been evident from the beginning. Her sensitivity within and around the group helped create the emotional safety people need for such delicate conversations and the artwork Gwen created, honoured the stories people shared and provided a beautiful keepsake of their experience. Gwen has been an exceptionally talented, respectful, committed and capable partner in this important work."

Deirdre McKenna, Social Work Consultant, Northern Ireland

"Gwen Stevenson, one of Arts Cares incredibly talented, super innovative and down-right impressive Artists in Residence, has spent 11 years as an Artist in Residence in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust in the Newry and Mourne Area. Gwen is a brilliant visual artist who can work across many mediums and is known at Arts Care for her innovation and experimentation with Digital Arts and Virtual Reality. Some of her most recent projects include “Landscapes of Hope” a relaxing zoom project for healthcare staff to create landscapes by ‘painting with wool’, reinstating Arts Care Arts Club a Mental Health Programme of Care and “Gathering” a memory collage for a service user diagnosed with early onset dementia. Gwen has also been a project artist with the Twilight Zone Festival, creating artworks with young people in care and Arts Care’s annual Older People’s Here and Now Festival.” #welovegwen

Stephanie McKervill, Arts Care Arts and Business Manager

"I feel privileged to have worked with Gwen Stevenson on the Lilian Bland project. Gwen's work has brought the Lilian Bland story to life for a whole generation of young people in Northern Ireland and beyond and is an exemplar in how the creative arts and engineering sectors can work together, challenge negative stereotypes, and educate and help inspire the next generation of female designers, innovators, and entrepreneurs."

Prof M Morgan, Associate Head of School & Athena SWAN Champion, School of Engineering, Ulster University

“Gwen Stevenson, has a wide range of skills allowing her to offer different forms of arts though which healthcare environments can be enhanced and clients can engage and express themselves through a medium of their choice. Gwen’s pragmatic, problem-solving approach affirms my view that the arts should not be viewed as peripheral, something to be enjoyed in our leisure time. Rather it can be woven into the fabric of our everyday working lives to find creative approaches to the challenges we meet on an everyday basis. We look forward to another year of creativity in action!”

Noreen McComiskey. Specialist Services Manager (Forensic, Epilepsy, Crisis Response and Transition)

"Gwen facilitated arts groups for young people and for the staff team and she provided an excellent service to both. The sessions for the staff were to support their self care and these were very well received and enjoyed by all, she also worked with groups of young people and facilitated a variety of sessions across a range of artistic mediums and the young people thoroughly benefited from her patience and expertise and these groups were always well attended and beneficial to all."

Stephanie Wilson, Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service

“When I was Mayor of Craigavon, I opened an art exhibition entitled ‘Roses, Lace & Lingerie’ as part of Portadown 400. Portadown boasts a rich history and, the Garvaghy Road in particular, was famous for its textiles manufacturing as well as the McCredy Roses which originated there and had international status. McGredy's Roses, Ulster Lace and the Mayfair textiles factory employed thousands of local residents. This exhibition was a celebration the town’s heritage and a fantastic opportunity to look at the shared history of this time. It was also the first time I met artist, Gwen Stevenson, whose socially engaged art practice, includes any artform involving people and communities in debate, collaboration or social interaction. Gwen continues to work creatively and skilfully with so many groups across Craigavon, often in very challenging circumstances, always bringing her own special magic to make a difference in people’s lives and communities. Gwen has a way of creating safe spaces and giving people confidence to step outside their comfort zones to try something new. Gwen shows us that art and creativity is for everyone, not just the few, and has the potential to be a powerful catalyst for change.”

Carla Lockharte, Member of Parliament

“At Brain Injury Matters we use the Arts and Sports in rehabilitation and long-term support. It is about people exploring who they are, what their interests are, expressing it and engaging in wider society. During lockdown, Gwen responded by finding innovative and engaging ways to make our participants’ worlds became bigger with endless possibilities. She introduced them to a range of digital technologies including VR, AR, Animation and Podcasting which are now hosted online or will be screened / exhibited at exhibitions and arts festivals in the future.”

Dr. Jonathan McCrea, Head of Service Delivery at Brain Injury Matters

“Gwen has facilitated socially-engaged, participatory and public arts programs and projects across Mid-Ulster Council for almost 20 years addressing difficult issues of disability, disadvantage, division, public health, and inequality. She is one of our most versatile and inventive artists responding to every situation with great skill across a range of media from traditional arts & crafts to digital arts & new media, including augmented and virtual realities. Fundamentally, she is a storyteller or story gatherer and the outcome of her processes with groups and participants is always excellent. From our point of view, we know that when we give Gwen a job to do, it will be done exceptionally well, on time and within budget. ”

Christine McGowan, Arts & Development Officer, Mid-Ulster Council, Northern Ireland

“"Gwen is a truly generous soul who selflessly works so hard that others can shine but doesn't stand in the spotlight herself. ”

Malachy Barry, Participant, Arts Care Art Club, Newry

"My wife and I have known Gwen Stevenson for a long time and it was an honour to work alongside Gwen on a variety of Public Realm Projects. Not only was it a privilege working with such an inspirational and talented artist and person, but Gwen gave us @DevlinInDesign a massive platform to progress onto the global artistic circuit. We are eternally grateful to Gwen for the countless opportunities that she gave us in the past and value her friendship and professionalism immensely. If I could mark Gwen as gifted individual out of 10 then I would give her 11."

Enda Devlin, Owner, Devlin in Design

“Wildlife Memories afforded a microscopic opportunity to look at the rich diversity of our customs and the flora and fauna. For me, it showed how our landscape and environment influences our lifestyle choices. That book and the new book will undoubtedly act as an teaching aid on the importance of protecting our environment and unique biodiversity against the ravages of climate change. Kate, Kathryn, Roy and Gwen have made an invaluable contribution to local communities throughout N Ireland through encouraging people on a cross community basis to provide interesting stories from their childhood and that of their families about the importance of protecting our natural heritage and wildlife. Such work is invaluable as we emerge from the COvid-19 pandemic. It also informs this and future generations about the inter-connectedness and inter dependence of all our communities – thus making a valuable contribution to all of us in society in N Ireland. Gwen’s own story, ‘The Three Sisters’, really resonates with me, telling as it does how the landscape of our childhoods shape us and though we may leave it, it never leaves us.”

Margaret Ritchie, Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

"Our immigrant population has enriched us our lives in many ways, not least in seeing our ourselves, our history and our shared place through a different lens. I cannot think of a more beautiful encapsulation of that ‘different lens’ than the collection of personal photographs contained in this book. Gao Ningu came to Dungannon to teach. Her photographs focus on the particular beauty within the moment of the ordinary present which we all share without reference to a past which is not her history. She teaches us to look twice, mindfully with an open heart. Gao also has exceptional talent which did not escape the eye of local artist Gwen Stevenson, who encouraged and supported Gao by contributing her own considerable art and design skills and experience to publish the photographs. Small actions of solidarity have enabled a work of enduring beauty of shared place to be shared, and it has been a joy to have been able to help make it happen".

Bernadette McAliskey, CEO, South Tyrone Empowerment Program (STEP)

About Me

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