Striking new glass artwork at Cork Opera House
“The piece now hangs permanently in our front-of-house space—a glowing tribute to 170 years of Cork Opera House and all those who have been part of its story.”
Those were the words of Eibhlín Gleeson, CEO and Artistic Director of Cork Opera House as a striking new permanent artwork by Cork-based glass artist, Sophie Longwill, was unveiled as part of its extended 170th anniversary celebrations.
The commission, called ‘Illuminating the Archives’, was developed in partnership with Sample-Studios, representing a lasting cultural legacy for the historic venue.
Sophie Longwill, a multi award-winning artist and member of Sample-Studios, was selected through a competitive tender process involving several leading visual artists. Recognised as one of Europe’s ‘Rising Stars’ by the Michelangelo Foundation’s Homo Faber Guide, Longwill has received numerous accolades, including a 2024 scholarship to the Corning Museum of Glass, an Agility Award from the Arts Council of Ireland, and an artist residency at Southern Illinois University, culminating in her solo exhibition Faoiseamh.
Ms Gleeson said: “This commission was conceived as a legacy piece for our 170th anniversary year: 170 individual pieces of glass, each representing a year of performance and culture on this stage, beautifully translated into light and colour by Cork artist Sophie Longwill, whose work explores memory, transformation and the passage of time through the medium of glass.”
The new commission was sponsored by Fleetwood Paints.
"We are deeply grateful to Fleetwood Paints for their generous sponsorship of this commission," continued Ms Gleeson. "Their support made it possible for us to bring this vision to life and to invest in a lasting piece of art for Cork. Partnerships like this allow us to go beyond the stage and create something that will resonate with our audiences and our city for years to come."
Reflecting on her work, Sophie Longwill said: “Inspired by the archives, I used colour, hand-painted illustration, and multiple glass techniques to capture the richness of the stories and the artistic vibrancy of Cork Opera House.
“Illuminating the Archives is composed of 170 pieces of fused glass; just as Cork Opera House is made of many voices and histories, this artwork brings together multiple elements to form a unified whole—a reflection of collective memory, community, and creative continuity.”
The judging panel for the 170th Anniversary Visual Art Commission included Brian Keehan from Fleetwood Paints, Eibhlín Gleeson from Cork Opera House, Aoibhie McCarthy from Sample-Studios, and Brian Mac Domhnaill from Lavit Gallery.
Aoibhie McCarthy, Artistic Director, Sample-Studios, said: “This is an excellent example of what can be achieved by partners coming together to underpin local artists' ambition and vision to enhance our existing infrastructure.”