Butler Gallery is delighted to announce photographer Margaret O'Brien-Moran as the Gypsy Ray Photography Resident Artist for 2026.

Since its invention in 1839 photographers have explored the three factors that make photography possible. Light sensitive materials, chemicals that develop and fix the image and a support on which this image rests. By using the opportunity of the time and facilities afforded through the Gypsy Ray residency, Margaret will continue her current research. This involves exploring and utilizing the light sensitive properties of naturally occurring and locally sourced photographic materials in order to develop a sustainable photographic practice.

With these factors in mind, during the two week residency Margaret aims to undertake an exploration of the inspiration behind Gypsy Ray’s analogue photography. Exploring her engagement with the natural world through her use of basic cameras such as pinhole and holga. Where the idea is interpretation over perfect reproduction.
 

The Gypsy Ray Photography Residency is an annual residency programme at Butler Gallery which utilises analogue cameras, photography equipment and darkroom set up for the development of new analogue photographic work. The residency is intended to support artists working in analogue photography, to afford them time and facilities to develop their practice.

About Gypsy Ray
A native of Illinois, USA, Gypsy Ray (1949-2020) studied drawing and photography at the University of Iowa later receiving her Masters degree in photography from Goddard College. Most of her U.S.A. based photographic work was created in California where her series based on The Male Nude and her later work with the San Francisco Aids Foundation and San Francisco Hospice received national and international attention. Resident in Ireland since 2000 she continued her documentary practice through creative engagements with local Camphill communities and with Traveller communities in County Kilkenny. Her work is to be found in many public and private collections including Permanent Collections, (U.S. Library of Congress), The Wellcome Trust Gallery (British Museum), Butler Gallery and the David Kronn Collection (Irish Museum of Modern Art).

The Gypsy Ray Photography Residency has been made possible with the support of Alan Counihan, Daniel Ryan and Patrick Tranmer, and Mary L. Ray and Steve Berlinski.

About the artist:

For the last thirty years Margaret O’Brien-Moran’s visual practice and research have focused on the photographic practices of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She taught analogue photography to post Leaving Certificate students for over twenty-five years. In 2017 she was awarded a PhD in media studies with photographic practice from the University of Ulster at Coleraine. The purpose of her current research and experimentation, for which she received an Arts Council Agility Award, questions the materials used in analogue photography and their effect on the natural environment. By utilizing the light-sensitivity of plant-based emulsions, she aims to develop a sustainable photographic practice.

Her most recent project ‘From the Japanese Gardens’, in collaboration with poet Mark Roper, was exhibited in the Coastguard’s Cultural Centre, Tramore in February 2025. The exhibition and the accompanying small book of poems and images featured on Nationwide (RTE.ie) on 7th May 2025.

Selected Solo exhibitions include ‘Eyes fixed on the past’ Coastguard’s Cultural Centre, Tramore (2017). ‘Inspiration’, The Old Market House Arts Centre, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford (2012). ‘Migraine Art’, Waterford Healing Arts Centre, Waterford University Hospital (2010). ‘First Impressions of Newfoundland’, Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford (2002). ‘New Beginnings’, Bank of Ireland Arts Centre, Dublin (2002). Awards include The Art’s Council agility award, (2023), Tyrone Guthrie Centre Regional Arts Bursary Award from County Waterford (2006), Ireland/Newfoundland Partnership, cultural bursary for travelling to Newfoundland to undertake photography project (2002), Irish Refugee Council, materials and bursary award, (2002).