Mary Palmer

I create quilts for exhibition and commission.  I am primarily self-educated, but have had City & Guilds training, and done seminars/workshops with a number of highly respected textile artists. And whilst much of my work has been strongly influenced by traditional shapes and patterns, I strive to create a modern look and feel in my pieces.  I use colours, shapes and textures in a manner which I hope draws the viewer in for a closer look.  I also like to play with words and concepts and am frequently inspired by architectural shapes and forms as well as the somewhat magical mathematical structures found in nature and music.

In addition to creating my own work; I actively foster the development of others interest in craft, particularly textiles.  I do this through teaching patchwork and quilting, organising exhibitions, and taking an active role in the running of organisations such as the Irish Patchwork Society, the Quilters Guild of Ireland, the Cork Textiles Network, Cork Craft and Design.  I am also a qualified judge and regularly assist in the organisation and curation of exhibitions.

2026 Selected to exhibit with DCCI ‘Four Seasons’ at Collect 2026

2025 Exhibited in ‘Voice of The Craft’, St. Peter’s Church, Cork

2025 Exhibited in ‘Feast’ Made in West Cork, Cnoc Bhui Arts Centre, Union Hall, Cork

2025 Exhibited in ‘Common Threads’ National Design and Craft Gallery

2024 ‘Lost in Translation’ purchased by Office of Public Works

2024 Exhibited in ‘Past Present / Future Perfect’ National Design and Craft Gallery, Kilkenny

2024 Exhibited in ‘Glimmers’, Kinsale library

2023 Exhibited in ‘Fibre of Our Being’, Ballydehob

2023 Exhibited in ‘Interwoven’, Kinsale Library 

2023 Exhibited in Nord Groeningen, The Netherlands with Art Quilt Fusion

2022 – 2024 Collaboration with Alison Conneely ‘Ascension’ made with support from the UNFPA, exhibited Connemara, Dublin, Denmark, New York. Won Fashion Textiles & Jewellery at the IDI 2023 awards.

2022 Exhibited at ‘Creativa’, Venice, Italy with Art Quilt Fusion

2022 Exhibited at ‘Nadelwelt’ in Karlsruhe Germany with Art Quilt Fusion

2022 ‘Made in Ireland’ exhibition, F.E. McWilliam Gallery & Studio, Armagh

2022 Selected as one of Ireland’s 50 Craft Heroes

2022 ‘Made in Ireland’ exhibition, Farmleigh, Dublin

2021 ‘Made in Ireland’ exhibition, National Design and Craft Gallery, Kilkenny

2021 ‘Who Will Tell the Bees’ (made with Anne Kiely) purchased under the National Acquisition Scheme by the Crawford Gallery

2021 Selected as one of seven participants for Lúnasa curated by Glas Contemporary at the Lavitt Gallery

2020 Selected for Cork Craft Month Showcase Exhibition at Working Artists Studio in Ballydehob

2019 – 2022 Saqa ‘Forced To Flee’ Exhibition

Festival of Quilts, Birmingham UK 2022

Pauly Friedman Art Gallery, PA 2021

Mills Station Arts Center, CA 2021

Clay County Historical Society, MN 2021

Daura Gallery, VA 2020

The Ruth Funk Center, FL 2019

2019 Best of Show, Festival of Quilts, Birmingham, (with Anne Kiely)

2019 Best Quilting, Festival of Quilts 

2019 1st place Two person Quilts, Festival of Quilts, Birmingham (with Anne Kiely)

2019 Judges Choice, Festival of Quilts, Birmingham

2018 Exhibiting in The Crawford Gallery of Art in ‘Earth, Wind, and Fire: Made in Cork Contemporary’

2018 Exhibited Triskel Gallery, Cork

2018 1st place Modern Quilts, Festival of Quilts UK

2018 2nd place Two person Quilts, Festival of Quilts UK (with Carmel Creaner)

2018 Selected for Cork Craft Month Showcase Exhibition

2018 Exhibited Art Quilt Fusion, Groningen, Netherlands

2017 Selected for Cork Craft Month Showcase Exhibition

2017 Exhibited Glor, Co Clare with DCCOI ‘Threadsong’ exhibition

2017 Exhibited Cork Craft and Design Showcase exhibition

2017 Exhibited with Art Quilt Fusion, Festival of Quilts UK, and Denmark

2017 1st place, Two-person, Festival of Quilts, Birmingham, UK (with Anne Kiely)

2017 3rd place Group Quilts, Festival of Quilts, Birmingham, UK

2017 William Smith O’Brien Trophy, RDS in collaboration with Anne Kiely

2016 Solo Exhibition at European Quilt Championships, Maastricht, the Netherlands

2016 Exhibited West Cork Creates in collaboration with Anne Kiely

2015 Exhibited at The Model, Sligo with DCCOI Textile Exhibition

2015 Irish Patchwork Society Award, RDS

2015 Invited to exhibit at the Blasket Cultural Centre, 'Wild Atlantic Way'.

2014 William Smith O'Brien Trophy, RDS

2014 Irish Patchwork Society Award for Excellence, RDS, Dublin

2014 1st prize patchwork and quilting, RDs, Dublin

2014 2nd place, two-person quilt, Festival of Quilts, Birmingham, England

2013 William Smith O’Brien Trophy, RDS Dublin

2013 Crafts Council purchase award, RDS Dublin (Collaborative piece with Anne Kiely)

2013 1st prize Patchwork and Quilting, RDS Dublin (Collaborative piece with Anne Kiely)

2013 IPS Award for Excellence, RDS Dublin (Collaborative piece with Anne Kiely)

2012 William Smith O’Brien Trophy, RDS Dublin

2012 1st prize patchwork and quilting, RDS Dublin

2012 IPS Award for Excellence, RDS Dublin

2011 Exhibited RDS, Dublin

2010 California Gold Medal, Overall Winner Royal Dublin Society Craft Competition (RDS) Dublin

2010 William Smith O’Brien Trophy, RDS Dublin

2010 IPS Award for Excellence in Traditional Quilt Making, RDS, Dublin

2010 1st Contemporary Patchwork & Quilt Making RDS, Dublin

2010 1st Traditional Patchwork & Quilt Making RDS, Dublin

2010 Among Artists with work selected to represent Cork Textiles Network at Stroud International Textiles

2009 Best of Country (representing Ireland) at the World Quilt Championships, USA

2008 Work selected for Long Arm Quilt Exhibition in Netherlands

2006 Country Markets Award for Excellence in Traditional Craft RDS, Dublin

2006 Juried into American Quilt Society Show, Paducah, USA

2004 1st Traditional Patchwork & Quilting RDS, Dublin

1999 Exhibited RDS

1996 2nd Contemporary Patchwork & Quilting RDS, Dublin

2024 – Feature in Irish Examiner Weekend

2022 – 2024 Chair Cork Craft and Design

2021 - present, Chair of Showcase Ireland CLG

2019 - 2022, Chair of The Quilters Guild of Ireland, a cross-border organisation

2018 – 2022, Chair of Art Quilt Fusion

2018 - Feature in Irish Examiner ‘My Design Life’

2017 - Feature in Evening Echo

2016 - 2019 Chair, Cork Textiles Network

2015 - 2021, Board Member of Design and Crafts Council of Ireland

2015 – 2023, Invited member of international group Art Quilt Fusion

2015 - Feature in Sunday Business Post magazine

2007 - present own and operate a Machine Quilting Service

2000 - present teach patchwork & quilting techniques

2014 - 2018 Board member and Treasurer, Cork Craft and Design

2016 - Judge at the Festival of Quilts, Birmingham, England

2014 - Curated Irish Patchwork Society Exhibition, 'Explorations', Cork County Library

2012 - Judge at the Festival of Quilts, Birmingham, England

2011 - 2013 Treasurer, Cork Textiles Network

1992 - 2012 Regular committee member of the Irish Patchwork Society, including as Chair and Treasurer

2011 Judge at the Festival of Quilts, Birmingham, England (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 as well)

2011 - Corporate Commission

2011 - Judge at the MQ Exhibitions Quilt and Embroidery Show, Uttoexeter, England

2010 - Designed and produced catalogue for Irish Patchwork Society National Exhibition

2010 - Curated Irish Patchwork Society National Exhibition

2010 - Curated exhibition at St. Finnbar's Cathedral, Cork Textiles Network

2010 - Published in Irish Quilting magazine (August, September – feature)

2010 - Published in Irish Quilting magazine (June, July – feature and pattern)

2009 - Published in Irish Quilting magazine (May, June – article)

2009 - Qualified as a Quilt Judge with the Quilters Guild of the British Isles

2004-2006 produced monthly newsletter for Quilters Guild of Ireland

2001 - One of Founders (and First Co-Chairman) of Quilters Guild of Ireland

2000 - Curated Irish Patchwork Society Cork exhibition

1999-2004 Artist in residence at Scoil Barra primary school teaching crafts to 4th and 5th class students

1999-2001 Assisted in curation and hanging of exhibitions in Cork Textiles Network Gallery

1999 - Participated in organising “Lace” exhibition with Cork Textiles Network

1999 - One of Founders (and First Treasurer) of the Cork Textiles Network

1998-2006 - Owned a Quiltmaking Supply Business (fabrics, notions, books, etc)

1989 - Moved to Ireland

1980’s - Studied Automotive Design in Detroit, Michigan