Carefully paced and obscured moving images and films remind us of their own catch and capture, and seeing, again and again. In her exhibition practice the objects speak; a limestone doorstep awaits the weight of our step as we enter, a polished handrail protrudes and subtly prompts us around a corner. These are silent but earnest guides, of the body and its presence and positioning. She questions whether an artwork can locate us and prime us for a moment of attention. O’Malley wishes to hold things together for a moment so they can be made visible and present. Her sculptural practice gestures towards enabling, offering protection, conveying sensations of touch, and more – of grabbing, holding, caressing surfaces, offering moments of tether and precarious poise.

Window, 2013
Project Arts Centre, Dublin, Ireland, 2013
Courtesy the artist, Photograph Ros Kavanagh

Installation view John Hansard Gallery, Southampton, 2021
Courtesy the artist, Photograph Thierry Bal

Installation view, 2019
Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
Courtesy the artist, Bowe O’Brien Photography

Installation View, Pavilion of Ireland, 59th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia
Photography by Ros Kavanagh, Courtesy the artist

Corner (hold)
Steel, textured coloured glass, graphite and varnish on card, 1510 x 1040 x 600 mm
Courtesy the artist, Bowe O’Brien Photography

Installation View
mother’s tankstation limited, Dublin
Courtesy the artist, Photograph mother’s tankstation limited

Handrail (segmented), 2020
Polished beech, steel, 3670 x 10mm
Courtesy the artist, Photograph mother’s tankstation limited

Installation View, Pavilion of Ireland
59th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia
Courtesy the artist, Photograph Ros Kavanagh

Installation View, Gather, Dublin
Temple Bar Gallery & Studios, Dublin
Photography by Aisling McCoy, Courtesy the artist

Lightbox, 202
Mirrored stainless steel, beech, mild steel, tinted glass, led strip, 2000x1300x300mm
Temple Bar Gallery + Studios, Dublin, IE
Photography by Aisling McCoy, Courtesy the artist