Tia O'Donnell
b. 1997 London, England
London based
Education
2017- 2022 Central Saint Martins
Solo Exhibitions
2020 - MIND FULL, Colebrooke Row, London
Select Group Exhibitions
2023 - Fraud degree, Shoreditch Arts Club, London
2022 - Women to watch, Reem Gallery, SOHO London
2021 - CITYSTATES, Club Row, London
2020 - The Edge, The Columbia Hotel & Roman Road, London
2019 - Girls Talk/Elle Magazine, Saatchi Gallery, London
2019 - Project 5-50-5, Joseph Froissart Gallery, Paris
2019 - Looking For Validation, Nayland Rock Hotel, Margate
2018 - Offline, Spike+Earl, London
2018 - Foundation, The Letherby Gallery, London
2017 - Sho-Ho, 100 Greek Street, London
2017 - SOMETHING TO HATE ON, Groucho Club, London
Artist In Residency
JULY - SEPTEMBER 2020 The Columbia Hotel in partnership with Roman Road Gallery
Press
"Tia guides us through her fascinating and engrossing childhood-inspired work, and discusses advocating for art as a source of strength."
https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/tia-odonnell-art-110621
"Becoming Comfortable in the Uncomfortable: In Conversation with Tia O’Donnell"
“Shining light on the deep and dark corners of the mind, we visited Tia O'Donnell's latest exhibition Mind Full.” TMRW Magazine
https://www.tmrwmagazine.com/features/culture/event-round-up-tia-odonnell
Fred Perry X Record Store Day Tote bags. “‘Fred Perry Subculture Profile: Tia O'Donnell”
https://www.fredperry.com/subculture/articles/tia-odonnell
"Why this UAL grad wants her tuition fees refunded"
"Watch women in the arts"
https://www.theglassmagazine.com/watch-women-in-the-arts-and-keep-watching-at-sohos-reem-gallery/
"Meet The Student Who Protested At Her Graduation Ceremony"
https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/real-life/university-refund-protest/
"HOW CREATIVITY HELPS ME COPE, WITH TIA O’DONNELL"
https://www.thecalmzone.net/how-creativity-helps-me-cope-with-tia-odonnell
London-born artist and illustrator Tia O'Donnell is a 'rising star' in the contemporary art world. Known for her intuitive, abstract paintings that explore colour, emotion, nature, and mental health, Tia's artistic repertoire extends beyond paintings to include prints, sculptures, ceramics, clothing, performance and jewellery.
Since 2013, Tia has used painting and drawing as her primary means of communication. Her creative process involves journaling, illustrating, and physical work with clay or metal. Creating fine art autobiographically, she fosters a safe space for self-expression, empowering others to embrace flaws as strengths. Tia has also ventured into the fashion industry, collaborating with brands such as Rhi Dancey and City States, with an emphasis on environmental consciousness. Exploring the world of jewellery and soldering sculptures are recent additions to her artistic pursuits. Tia's love and use of inanimate objects collected during her journeys reflects her commitment to sustainability, repurposing them into items with a personality and story. Tia has previously worked with brands such as Fred Perry, Crocs, Converse, Asos, Napapijri, Urban Outfitters, and Cat.
A nature lover and avid sea comber, Tia's recent focus has been on marrying nature into her artwork. She often visits Ardentinny, where she immerses herself in the outdoors, collecting lost treasures. Tia finds herself in nature and translates what she sees and feels into her work. Through her practice, she aims to evoke honest feelings and by not holding back on her true self and sharing stories of scars.
What sets Tia apart is her gratitude for her younger self, embracing the playful aspects of her childhood artwork. Her style, described as an "overgrown child refusing to be an adult," seamlessly blends childlike playfulness with the struggles of adulthood. Tia views her work as a diary entry, finding fulfillment when audiences can relate to it.
Tia's fragmented creative process across illustration, painting, collage, and sculpting appears methodical and effortless. Her diary serves as the starting point, with each piece evolving from personal experiences, memories, or traumas, determining the format of the project. Tia's use of sentimental elements, from receipts to fabrics, adds a mosaic-like quality to her pieces, serving as an extension of herself, a therapeutic outlet and giving inanimate objects a new lease of life.
Looking ahead, Tia envisions hosting jewellery making workshops, breaking down taboos and stigmas in her work and creating a space for her audience to unleash the true self. She dreams of showing others how art helped her discover herself, navigate emotions, and foster self-love. While not a qualified therapist, Tia believes in the power of painting, sculpting, and drawing to allow individuals to be their true, unapologetic selves.