Penelope O’Gara
Penelope O’Gara studied theatre and costume design at Exeter University and Southern Methodist University in Dallas before putting together an impressive CV of professional costume work, including with puppets. Dolls as medium spoke to Penelope not only because of her career experience, but more deeply because of the symbolic resonance of their historical use as totems. Her work explores ritual objects, archetypes and symbolism. At the heart of what she creates is a narrative, and Penelope’s calling is to go deeper. She explains, “whether working in two dimensions or three, story-telling is at the heart of my work. Each character has a unique tale to share – I am currently exploring ways to stitch in symbolic elements to further deepen the narrative.”
The dolls are usually based on characters from Penelope’s journals. They are sustainable art—she uses recycled cotton cloth, silk scraps, antique lace and old velvets. She dips them in dye and adds particular details using pastels and graphite. Penelope says that her method of allowing the fabrics to show through paint reminds her of old film grain.
Penelope’s work is inspired by the myths and legends of Avalon. She explains, “Since moving to the Somerset Levels, I have been increasingly drawn to the spirit of the place. Burrowing into the treasure trove of English folklore and local fauna, I find myself creating liminal creatures that cross the divide between animal and human, mythic and mortal.” Penelope has created hand-stitched dolls of totem animals like rabbits, which symbolise fertility and immortality and are common in Avalonian iconography.
Artist Penelope O’Gara
Textiles and beads
Body 23cm (Full length with beading 67cm)
Artist Penelope O’Gara
Textiles and beads
Body 36cm (Length including beading 70cm)
Artist Penelope O’Gara
Vintage silk, linen, lace, leather & jewellery; wool
30cm H x 11cm W
Artist Penelope O’Gara
Vintage silk, linen, lace, leather & jewellery; wool
39cm H x 11cm W
Artist Penelope O’Gara
Vintage silk, linen, lace, leather & jewellery; wool
39cm H x 11cm W
Artist Penelope O’Gara
Vintage velvet & lace, glass beads, wire, buttons & jewellery
50cm H x 13cm W
Cavallus is the bravest of the brave. Indeed, following his famous display of valour at the Battle of Lilac Cove he was awarded the highest honour that the Merfolk's court can bestow. You haven't heard of the Battle of Lilac Cove? Well, briefly...the Merfolk of the Upper Waters were surrounded by horrors from the very deepest trenches, the hideous glutinous blobs that haunt your nightmares; they threatened to engulf and destroy the entire Court. Until, that is, reinforcements led by our hero arrived from the far reaches of the Inland Sea. Executing a feint & retreat that lured the horrors away from the civilians, they led the near-blind blobs into the waiting maws of some very hungry sharks. Now we all know how reliable a hungry shark is, and thus it was for leading his troops between the very teeth of these sometime-allies that the Order of the Luminaria was bestowed upon our mer-hero.
Artist Penelope O’Gara
Hand-dyed cotton, vintage Honiton lace & jewellery
30cm H x 25cm W
Gytha dwells deep in the dark waters of the bog, a dark shape glimpsed but rarely by those brave ( or foolhardy) enough to cross the wetlands when the rivers are in spate. There she abides, ever-wakeful, ever waiting for the day when the waters will rise high enough for her to reach the city gates, to swim through flood-breached walls & at last wreak revenge upon those who slew her beloved son.
Artist Penelope O’Gara
Vintage velvet, silk, lace & jewellery; hand-dyed cotton, wire & wool
38cm H x 18cm W
Amphritrite is clearly a mermaid of means. More than that, she is actually daughter of Poseidon himself, scioness of the Olympians & now ruler of the seas. Fortunately for us, she is quite the benevolent tyrant who chooses to ignore the failings of poor land-bound creatures just as long as they do not stray too close to her Atlantean palaces. If and when that occurs, then woe betide the transgressor, who will ne'er see sunlight again.
Artist Penelope O’Gara
Vintage chantilly lace, veiling & cotton
51cm H x 15.5cm W
Irma Vep has lurked in the shadows for more than a century now, still watching & waiting for the ideal moment to reveal herself in all her lace-clad glory. When that day arrives, she plans to leap from her roost amid the gargoyles, soar above the city & cast her dark spell resurrecting the stars of silent cinema & cursing all others to utter nought but whispers. For the modern world is far too noisy to faerie ears.
Artist Penelope O’Gara
Textiles and beads
Body 24cm (Full length with beading 64cm)