GAEL O’LEARY
The beautiful, realist sculptures of Gael O’Leary are well known to the many who visit the schools, hospitals, churches and public spaces that her large scale works adorn. For the last thirty years these major commissions have drawn on her devotional background and reflect her deep interest in spirituality and social justice. The picture shows her at work on her current project, a giant clay figure from the 'Song of Miriam' which, with two more large format relief figures, will be cast in bronze for Our Lady of Sion School, Box Hill, Melbourne. Its massive size of the 4500 x 8000 x 150 is testament to the painstaking detail and level of skill required to achieve the astonishing inner energy and flowing lyricism that this large scale figure already radiates. New Zealand born Gael was a teacher, painter and printmaker with a Master of Arts before she came to Australia in 1994 to complete a Master of Fine Art, Sculpture at the Victorian College of Art, Melbourne University.
In 1996 Gael was Co-Director of the Mercy Art and Creativity Centre, Black Rock Melbourne. From 2005 until mid-2009 Gael managed the Bayside Sculpture Centre in Highett, Melbourne (a ministry of Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand). In 2009 Gael acquired the business, still called Bayside Sculpture. This unique place caters for six resident sculptors and many students and professional artists who work across a multitude of mediums and forms. As a much loved and respected teacher Gael encourages, supports and challenges the entire Bayside cohort to express their own individual essence and to honour that endeavour in each other.
(Right) Gael with the maquette of “Family” (2000 x 1200 x 700 mm), an outdoor bronze for the Mater Hospital, Mackay.
(Left) One of Gael's clay figures (4500 x 8000 x 150 mm) for a bronze wall relief for Our Lady of Sion School, Box Hill, Melbourne.
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