“For me, a successful public artwork needs to have a sense of place, a freshness, some intrigue & playfulness, a bit like a frozen moment from a daydream”
Selected Biography
For Joynt, scale is important, transforming our normal viewpoint. Using different magnifications be it macro or micro, she allows the subject to take on a new presence and hopefully invites a moment to pause.
Born in 1966, Rachel grew up in Dublin and currently lives and works in the Blackstairs’ mountains, Co Carlow. She was elected full member of the Royal Hibernian Academy in 2005 and elected as a member of Aosdána in 2021. Best known for her large scale public sculpture, her most recent solo show Fathom-outstretched arms at Solomon art Gallery in ‘25 , is intimate both in scale and nature and includes bronze sculpture, print and moving image. Joynt’s work is predominantly site-specific; this goes for both her gallery installations and public artworks. Rachel exhibits regularly at the Solomon gallery and in the RHA Annual exhibition, Her many public artworks include Síol outside Glencar House in Ballsbridge, Dublin; Dearcán na nDaoine – The People’s Acorn, Áras an Uachtaráin, Dublin; Mothership at Sandycove seafront; Starboard on the River Lagan, Belfast; Guiding Star at Port Oriel, Clougherhead, Co. Louth; Noah’s Egg, UCD; Wood Key Walk at Christchurch, Dublin and People’s Island at Dublin’s O’Connell Bridge.
Her work is included in many private, corporate and public collections including the OPW, Bank of Ireland, AIB, the National Self Portrait Collection, The Gallery of Photography and Temple Bar Gallery Studios.
Education
1984-89 BA Hons Fine Art Sculpture, National College of Art and Design.
1988 Exchange student, Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland.
Professional Affiliation
2022 Elected as member of Aosdana.
2005 Elected Full Member of The Royal Hibernian Academy.
Selected Public Commissions
2025-26 Beatha, currently, Royal College of Surgeons St Stephen’s green.
2021 ÉIST- listen ,Scartleigh NS, Saleen , Co Cork
2017 Dearcán na nDaoine- The Peoples Acorn Aras An Uachtarain, Phoenix Park. Comissioned by OPW and President’s Office.
2014 Waggle Dance, Collaborative Sculpture, Iontas Building, NUI, Maynooth.
2013 Instinct ,walkway along river Moy, Ballina, Co Mayo, Mayo Co council.
2012 Golden Apple, St Nessan’s College, Limerick.
2009 Guiding Star, Port Oriel, Clougherhead, Louth Co Council.
2007 Love All, Templogue village, South Dublin Co Council.
2007 Clutch, Baltray, Drogheda, Louth, Co. Council.
2005 Free Flow, North Quay, Dockland Development, Dublin.
2004 ‘Noah’s Egg’ outside Veterinary Building, U.C.D, Bellfield, Co Dublin
2003 Arc Hive, Pearse st Library. Dublin City Council.
2002 Moonwalk, Morecambe Bay, Lancashire City Council, England.
2001 Egg, Redrow Homes, Cardiff Bay Arts Trust, Cardiff, Whales.
2001 Starboard, Gregg’s Quay, Laganside Corporation, Belfast.
1999 Mothership, Newtownsmith, Sandycove, Dun Laoighaire Rathdown County
Council, Co. Dublin.
1997 Shoreline, Strand Road, Derry, N. Ireland, Derry City Council.
1996 Perpetual Motion, Naas by Pass, Collaboration, Kildare Co Council.
1995 Vane as a peacock, weather vane & pool, Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Castle, OPW.
1994 A Spine Path, Library Headquarters, Clare Co Council, Ennis, Clare.
1992 Red Stone, visitors Centre, OPW, Kilrush, Co. Clare.
1991 Wood Key Walk, Winetavern Street / Patrick Street project, DCC.
1990 Solas na Glasrai-The Green Light, Moore st, now Church st, DCC.
1988- 17 Peoples Island- Oileán na nDaoine ’88 Dublin Millenium redesigned in 2017- Dublin City Council & Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
Selected Commercial Commissions
2024 New leaf/Duille óg, Glencar House , Merrion rd, Ballsbridge , Dublin.
2022 Síol, Glencar House ,Merrion Rd , Ballsbridge, Dublin.
2001 Eccentric Orbit, Portmarnock, collaboration with Remco de Fouw commission, Co. Dublin.
2019 Keepsake, Chartered Land ltd, Lansdowne Pl, D4.
2018 Metropropolis, collaboration with Remco de Fouw, Green properties, Sandyford, Dublin.
2006 Mother of pearl, Private garden, Killiney, Co. Dublin.
1997 Melt Down, collaborative commission, Newcastle upon Tyne Eco Centre, UK.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2025 Fathom-outstretched arms, Solomon Fine Art, Dublin.
2013 SEA- CHANGE, Ashford Gallery, RHA Ely Place, Dublin.
1999 FEED, Installation, Temple Bar Gallery and Studios, Dublin.
1996 Route, Residency and Exhibition in La Friche Belle de Mai, Marseille
1993’94 SELENE, Installation, Project Arts Centre, Dublin & Arts Council Gallery, Belfast.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2024 It Took A Century, women artists & the RHA, National Gallery of Ireland.
2020 Connected, Kilkenny Sculpture trail, National Design Craft Gallery .
2020 SHEKINA sculpture garden collection, Glenmalure, Co Wicklow.
2019 The Book Project, 9 Stone Artists, VISUAL, Carlow.
2019-25 Solomon Gallery, Dublin 2, Winter & Summer shows.
2017 The Sea, Catherine Hammond Gallery, Skibbereen, Co Cork.
2016 The Possibility of Place, VISUAL, Co Carlow.
2015 EIGSE, VISUAL, Carlow Arts Festival, Carlow.
2015-19 VUE, Solomon Gallery, RHA Gallaher Gallery, Co Dublin.
2014 Boyle Arts Festival Main Exhibition, Boyle , Co Roscommon.
2014 Dublin Biennial 2014, CHQ,IFSC, Docklands Dublin.
2012 9 Stones Artists, EIGSE, Deighton Hall, Carlow.
2011 CAST 25, Solomon Gallery, Dublin & James Wray & Co Gallery, Belfast.
2010 Festival Art Exhibition, EPA, Johnstown Castle, Wexford.
2009 -15 9 Stone Artists, Norman Gallery, Wexford & Borris Hse.
2005 -25 RHA annual Exhibition, RHA Gallagher Gallery, Dublin.
Collections
Bank of Ireland ,VAI, Visual Arts Ireland,Allied Irish Banks ,The Gallery of Photography
Temple bar Gallery,Temple Bar Properties,National Self Portrait Collection ,OPW,
Office of Public Works.