The act of making is a fundamental, indeed primary, human activity. Artistic endeavour as part of that activity functions to interpret, illuminate and transform the world we live in. My work examines the varied landscapes and environments both internal and external that mankind inhabits. I work with large plates using all the techniques of intaglio to create highly textured images. I like to think of this as "building" plates and in this sense there is a sculptural aspect to the work. It is an act of simulation. At times my prints have also approximated the characteristics of paintings. This transformation within the medium is of considerable interest to me.

My work is multifaceted culminating in the convergence of ideas, experiences, and events both current and historical. Anecdote plays a significant role in my work. The whole gamut of human kinds' trials and tribulations; successes and failures, are explored. Elements within some compositions reference architectural form, representing the structures that man has devised for a functional society and civilisation. Visualised, is the way in which humanity has imposed itself on the natural world. How exploited. Compositional elements that are organic or apparently chaotic portray an oppositional viewpoint; nature as adversary to human enterprise. It is in the tension between these two forces that I place my mark.

Stephen Vaughan Curriculum Vitae

Biography & Education

1970 Born in Kilkenny, Ireland

1989-1990 Craft & Design, Grennan Mill Crafts School, Thomastown, Co. KIlkenny

1990-1993 Diploma in Fine Art (Printmaking with Distinction)

Crawford College of Art & Design, Cork

1994 B.A. in Fine Art ( Printmaking with First Class Honours 1.1)

Crawford College of Art & Design, Cork

Solo Exhibitions

2004 Work by Stephen Vaughan : Original Print Gallery, October 28th, 2004

2001 Galleri Helle Knudsen, Stockholm, Sweden January 2001

Jonathan FerraraGallery, New Orleans, January 2001

1999 New works by Stephen Vaughan Michael Gold Gallery, New York.

Exhibition of Prints, Chris Doswell Gallery, Limerick

1998 Stephen Vaughan : New Work, Michael Gold Gallery, New York

1997 Work by Stephen Vaughan, Kilkenny School Of Music, Kilkenny Arts Week

Selected Exhibitions

2005 "Common Ground": Celebrating 25 years of Grennan Mill Crafts School, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny.

Clo in China: 411 Gallery, Hangzhou City, China, Contemporary Irish Printmaking.

2004 Flowers Graphics: Gallery artists, 26th November— 24th December

2004 The Cracked Looking Glass:

Graphic Studio Dublin, June 3rd–July 10

The Old Print Shop, New York, 6th– 16th July

The Kontarshusets Print Gallery, Stockholm, 21/8 – 11/9

2004 Flowers Graphics : 3 Contemporary Printmakers 24 April - 23 May 2004

2004 174th RHA Annual Exhibition: Dublin, April 20 - May 22, 2004

2004 Model Arts Centre : Sligo. Artists form Kilkenny

2003 Butler Gallery: Kilkenny: Artists form Kilkenny

2002 Holy Show : Artists response to the Old Testament., Chester Beatty Library, Dublin

2001 Print/Estampe : An exchange of french and Irish contemporary prints

1999 Blackchurch Print Studio Members show, Original Print Gallery, Dublin

Tony O’Malley Selects, Lavitt Gallery, Cork

1998 Temple Bar International Print Show, Original Print Gallery, Dublin

Wall to Wall, Blackchurch Studio Members show, Original Print Gallery, Dublin

Zeckendorff Towers, New York.

Works on Paper, Michael Gold Gallery, New York

Autumn Exhibition, The Bridge Gallery, Dublin

Prints From The Edge, Lambay Hse., Contemporary Art Gallery, Howth, Dublin

City, Seas & Other Places, Original Print Gallery, Dublin

Shake, Michael Gold Gallery, New York

1997 Wall to Wall, Blackchurch Studio Members show, Original Print Gallery, Dublin

Gallery Artists, At Annabel Bowen Gallery, Kildare St., Dublin

Rolling Devolution, A touring exhibition of Scotish and Irish Art in Scotland

Michael Gold Gallery, New York. Group shows (Feb, June & September

1995 E.V.A. ‘95’, (Exhibition of Visual Art) Limerick

Stephen Vaughan & Lucy Turner : Emerging Artists, Original Print Gallery

Cork Printmakers ‘95’, Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Cork

Banquet Exhibition, RHA Gallagher Gallery, Dublin

Altered States, Touring exhibition. The Arts Council Education Programme

Impressions : Fifth National Open Print Exhibition, Galwy Arts Centre

Designs on Peace, U.S Embassy, Dublin in honour of Presidential visit

1994 Dispatches, Perugia, Italy

Christmas Show, Butler Gallery, Kilkenny

1993 Cork City Artists, Crawford Municipal Art Gallery

1990 Vice Versa, Sculptors Society of Ireland & The Jewellers & Metalworkers Guild

Awards

1997 The Graphic Studio Award for Printmakers: In Memory of Mary Farl Powers

1996 Visual Arts Bursary, The Arts Council of Ireland : To print in New York.

1995 Commended 3rd Prize, Impressions : Fifth National Open Print Exhibition

1994 N.M.R.C Purchase Award

1993 Student of the Year, Crawford College of Art & Design. N.C.E.A

1992 Thomas Dammann Junior Memorial Trust Grant : Research on Anoni Tapies

Residencies

1996 Belfast print Workshop: Visiting artist for three week block

1996 Lower East Side Printshop: New York. Visiting artist for October 1996

Catalogues

2004 The Cracked Looking Glass, Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin

2002 Holy Show, Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin

2001 Print/Estampe, Black Church Print Studio

1999 The Butler Gallery Collection, The Butler Gallery

1998 Temple Bar International print Show, Coracle Press

1997 Rolling Devolution, The Scotish Touring Exhibition Consortium

Kilkenny Arts Week ‘97’

1995 Cork Printmakers ‘95’

E.V.A. ‘95’

Academy Without Walls : 50 under 40, RHA Gallagher Gallery

Altered States, The Arts Council of Ireland

Designs on Peace, The United States Embassy, Dublin

1994 Cork Printmakers ‘94’

1993 Cork City Artists ‘93’, Crawford Municipal Art Gallery

1990 Vice Versa, Sculptors Society of Ireland & The Jewelers & Metalworkers Guild

Commissions

1995 Altered States : The Arts Coucil of Ireland

A print in edition of five which was included in a touring exhibition to secondary schools around Ireland

1997 Kilkenny Fire Station: 4 Prints

2001 Sony Entertainment Ireland : Presentation of prints. Edition of 48.

Collections

The Arts Council of Ireland,

Butler House, Kilkenny

University College, Dublin,

Greencore

University College Cork (N.M.R.C. & The Visual Arts Committee)

AIB Collection, Irish Life

Fitzwilton House (Dublin)

Contemporary Irish Arts Society / The Butler Gallery, Guinness

Office of Public Works

R.T.E. Cork

The New York Public Library Print Collection

The Arts Council of Ireland,

Microsoft, Sandyford

Uppsala University, Sweden

Ernst &Young, Stockholm

Paramount Pictures, L.A.

Sony Entertainment Ireland

Chestrer Beatty Library, Dublin