About Cow House Studios

Mission

Cow House Studios supports contemporary visual art practice at all levels through an independent and self-sustaining model. As an artist-led initiative, our studios give meaningful form to what we value most. Through a carefully considered pedagogy, nurturing hospitality, and informal discussion, we invite our guests to consider how their work can foster care and connection, broadly impact their communities, and engage with the creative process as a catalyst for independent thought. Through collaborative acts of creative production, we seek to cultivate strong bonds of compassion and understanding.

Cow House Studios' education program provides the guidance necessary for students to think independently and create with intent and purpose. Our residential summer and gap year courses focus on individualized teaching while balancing observational skills and practiced craft with critical thinking and meaningful engagement with contemporary art practice. Rosie and Frank lead the curriculum with over twenty years of experience, prioritizing small class sizes to ensure that every student receives personal attention, nurturing a sense of family and community.

Presenting opportunities to artists, our residencies are based on a core belief that art should exist in the everyday, beyond the museum and gallery walls of large urban centers. Our residencies are open to a broad range of creative practitioners and vary in length from one week to as long as four weeks. Often, these programs have a conceptual focus, facilitated by curators or artists, while our open residency provides uninterrupted time and space to make new work. These programs for professional artists bridge awareness to our particular rural context and introduce critically engaging contemporary artwork to our community.

The History

Cow House Studios is named for its practical origins on the O’Gorman family farm, where for over 250 years the family has lived and worked the land. Nestled at the foot of the scenic Blackstairs Mountains, it is located three miles from the village of Rathnure, County Wexford. The vision of two artists, Rosie O’Gorman and Frank Abruzzese, fortified by the generosity of the O’Gorman family, has transformed the function of the Cow House from a beautiful stone structure used for bedding cows into a studio committed to facilitating contemporary visual arts practice.

Michael O'Gorman, Rosie's father, initially considered using the old farm buildings to hold art classes in 1997. This corresponds with Rosie's studies at NCAD in Dublin, where she earned her degree in Art Education. However, the idea of converting part of the O'Gorman farm into artist studios took shape when Co-Directors Rosie and Frank met at the San Francisco Art Institute in 2002. While studying for their master's in Visual Art, exposed to philosophies of expanded art practices, the potential for a hybrid artist residency and educational facility took form. The familial generosity at the core of the studio's founding now deeply informs an ethos of nurturing, attentive, and caring hospitality.

In 2005, plans to transform two buildings were put in motion. Between November 2006 and June 2008, both the studio and the Barn were lovingly renovated, maintaining the structural integrity of their unique birthplace. In June 2008, Cow House Studios opened, hosting a group of young international students for the very first session of Art on the Farm and later that year, hosted four artists for our first residency program. Today, Cow House Studios coexists alongside the family farm which continues to inform the experiences our guests enjoy throughout the year.

Cow House Family & Staff

Cow House Studios is a family run business. Established in 2007 by artists Rosie O’Gorman and Frank Abruzzese, the running of the studio and farm now involves the whole family. Co-Directors Rosie and Frank are responsible for the day-to-day management of the studios, including program scheduling and curriculum development. Rosie and Frank are also the primary teachers for the workshops and courses. Both of Rosie’s younger sisters, Edel and Sinead, work with Cow House. Sinead assists with teaching and, as our studio manager, keeps everything well organized. Edel is responsible for much of the behind the scenes activities that make Cow House run smoothly.

Rosie O’Gorman

Frank Abruzzese

Edel and Sinead

Mary and Michael

Ciara Roche

Róisín White

Salvatore of Lucan

Rosie’s parents Michael & Mary have a significant presence at Cow House; they keep the grounds in pristine condition and provide a welcoming atmosphere to our guests. Over the years, Michael has populated the fields with handmade swings, chairs and inventive sculptures made from old farm machinery, he is a craftsperson in his own right and always curious to see what’s happening in the studio. Mary is a fantastic cook, and along with the occasional dessert, homemade jam or fresh loaf of bread continues to advise Frank and Caitriona in the kitchen, ensuring that everyone who visits the studios can have a taste of the delicious food Rosie and her sisters enjoyed growing up.

In addition to the family, we are delighted to have Ciara Roche, Róisín White, and Salvatore of Lucan as associate artists. These three artists teach during our summer program Art on the Farm and our gap year program FieldWorks. Above all else, our associate artists are highly accomplished practicing artists who are committed to working with young people and represent a diverse set of artistic practices ranging from painting to sculpture, installation, performance, video, and photography. In their young careers, all have exhibited widely whilst receiving recognition for their exceptional work as recipients of numerous grants and awards.

Facilities

The studios are housed in a lovingly converted stone barn. Built in 1915, it was a working “cow house” until 2006. With its dense stone walls, abundant natural light, and high ceiling supported by striking wooden beams, the Cow House is architecturally unique at twice the width of typical Irish stone barns. Today, the 343 m2 (3700 ft2) open plan studio contains a darkroom, computer lab and lounge. The studios were designed for flexibility of use, the Cow House contains 4 individual spaces, and a shared open studio floor for larger group projects and alternative working methods.

Accommodation

Beside the studio lies our charming accommodation. The 300-year-old barn has been transformed to provide our guests a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The shared experience of living, eating, and spending time together forms an integral part of life at the Cow House. The Barn contains five en-suite bedrooms, a cozy dining room, a large living area, an expanding visual arts library, and a busy kitchen where wew prepare home-cooked food.

At the Cow House, we take our food seriously. We ensure that everyone eats three delicious and healthy meals a day, and we are happy to accommodate any specific dietary needs, whether it be food allergy or vegetarian requirements. At the creative direction of Co-Director Frank Abruzzese, we serve a variety of cuisines from Irish to Mexican, Italian to Middle Eastern. We are proud to use ingredients that have been produced locally: fresh milk and cheese, natural Irish beef and lamb, and delicious root vegetables, not to mention our home-baked bread, fruit preserves, ferments, and delicious desserts.

The Barn is just beside the O’Gorman homeplace and, in the past, was used as horse stables, dog kennels, storage for grain and potatoes, and at one time, housed workers who would have helped Rosie’s ancestors work the land. It’s not uncommon for Rosie’s parents to pop in for a chat or share a meal with Rosie, Frank, and their two children, Michael and Emmet. The Barn is an integral part of the family homestead, giving students and residency artists a sense of the living history that makes short or long stays at the studio a unique experience.

Sustainability Statement

Cow House Studios is committed to environmental sustainability, and our efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, promote the use of less harmful art materials, and protect local ecosystems are evolving and responsive. We follow the guiding principles outlined in The Earth Charter and have made various improvements since opening our studio. These include responsibly disposing of all waste materials, recycling whenever possible, separating organic and compostable food waste, reusing materials, and sourcing as much food as possible from local and organic farms.

This year, we will install a large solar array and transition to heat pumps, further reducing carbon emissions. Soon, we will replant a forest with native tree species, creating a local habitat that supports wildlife. Additionally, our existing forestry is managed as a continuous cover plantation to prevent clear-felling. We understand that sustainability is an ongoing effort, and our long-term goals include growing our own crops, eliminating the use of chemical fertilizers on our land, and adopting a more sustainable management approach for wild spaces to allow for more flourishing local flora and fauna.

Contact

Ballybawn, Rathnure
Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
Y21 T0X8, Ireland
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Phone: +353 53 916 9567

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