Elizabeth O'Kane
Date: 2008 Material: bronze Size: +15% x life-size Location: Iveagh Gardens, Dublin Sitter: Irish Tenor (1884 – 1945)
Date: 2019 Material: bronze Size: life-size Location: Dublin Sitter: Ethiopian model
Date: 2021 Material: bronze Size: 1.5 xlife-size Location: bronze casts in the European Parliament Strasbourg, Irish Embassies in Washington DC & London, and Leinster House (Dublin) Sitter: Statesman, peacemaker, civil rights leader (1937 – 2020)
Date: 2023 Material: bronze Size: life-size Location: Dublin Sitter: Sicilian model
Date: 2020 Material: bronze Size: life-size Location: Dublin Sitter: Irish actor
Date: 2024 Material: fired terracotta Size: life-size Location: Dublin Sitter: Irish model
About
Born in Northern Ireland, Elizabeth O’Kane is a Dublin-based sculptor and painter, best known for her bronze sculptures of statesman John Hume and Irish tenor John Count McCormack. Originally a French translator, Elizabeth is largely a self-taught artist. Her work focuses on portraiture and movement; she is fascinated by the human face, enthnicity and expression. She is a member of The Art Students League of New York, where she has studied regularly since 2008. She has also studied at the Florence Academy of Art, and the Pietrasanta Marble School in Italy.
Collectors of Elizabeth’s work include the European Parliament, Irish Embassies in Washington DC and London, Leinster House (Irish Parliament, Dublin), the Department of Foreign Affairs (Dublin), the Office of Public Works (Dublin), the National Concert Hall (Dublin), the National Library of Ireland, Shannon Airport, University of Limerick, University College Dublin, the Irish Rugby Football Union, and Belfast City Hall.
Elizabeth has lectured in portrait sculpture to the Friends of the National Gallery of Ireland, at Trinity College Dublin, and at the Institute of Art Design & Technology Dun Laoghaire, Dublin.
Profile
Born (Date) 1970
Sculpture Education
2024 Expressive Portraiture, an Anatomical Approach, Maudie Brady, Florence
2023 Workshops with Maudie Brady and Grzegorz Gwiazda, Mapstone Studio, Devon.
2008-20 The Art Students League of New York. Stone carving part-time classes.
2010-13 Pietrasanta Marble School, Italy. Stone carving, part-time studies.
2005-08 The Florence Academy of Art, Italy. Figurative Sculpture, part-time studies.
2001 Slade School of Fine Art, University College London. Sculpting the figure in Wax.
Studio Location The Design Tower, Trinity East, Dublin, Ireland.
Materials you work in Clay, bronze, resin, plaster, stone
P U B L I C S C U L P U R E C O M M I S S I O N S
2025 Revolutionary Women, Tralee Town Park, Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland
2022 John Hume, Washington DC, Strasbourg European Parl, + Leinster House, Dublin
2019 Chief Justice John Murray, The University of Limerick, Ireland
2017 John Hearne, Waterford City + Irish Embassy, Washington DC
2017 Dr Brendan O’Regan, Shannon Airport, Co. Clare, Ireland
2012 Dr. Garrett FitzGerald, Iveagh House, Dublin (The Dept of Foreign Affairs)
2010 Mick the Millar greyhound, Killeigh, Co. Offaly, Ireland
2010 Plane Tree, Incorporated Orthopaedic Hospital of Ireland, Dublin
2011 Heron, Jordanstown Loughshore Park, N. Ireland
2008 John McCormack, Iveagh Gardens, Dublin
2004 Mary Ann McCracken, Belfast City Hall, Belfast
2002 Coquette, BreastCheck, St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin
Awards/Prizes
2023 The Arts Council of Ireland - Agility Award.
2007 Royal Hibernian Academy of Art - Conor/Moran Sculpture Prize.
2000 Oireachtas Annual Exhibition, Dublin - Oireachtas/CAST Sculpture Prize.
Public Collections
The European Parliament, Strasbourg, France.
The Irish Embassy, Washington DC, and London.
Department of Foreign Affairs, Iveagh House, Dublin.
Iveagh Gardens, Dublin.
National Concert Hall, Dublin.
National Library of Ireland, Dublin.
Shannon Airport, Co. Clare.
Waterford Treasures Museum, Waterford City.
University College Dublin, Belfield Campus and Newman House collections.
Chancellors Walk , University of Limerick, Limerick.
World Rugby & Irish Rugby Football Union.
BreastCheck, St.Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin.
Incorporated Orthopaedic Hospital of Ireland, Clontarf, Dublin.
Belfast City Hall, Belfast.
Jordanstown Loughshore Park, Belfast.