‘When we first encountered the work of Alan Meredith, we were immediately struck by his profound affinity for wood and his deep understanding of its potential in both sculptural and functional forms. By cutting, carving, turning and steaming fallen trees, he transforms raw material into fluid, meticulously crafted works. His pieces captivate through dynamic curves, tactile surfaces, and an organic sense of movement - echoes of the timber's centuries-long growth held within each form’. Emma Clegg, Gallery Owner, The Stratford Gallery, January '26.
In the heart of County Laois, Ireland, Alan Meredith has created a place where materials, landscape and form come together in silent dialogue. The Oak is a refuge that expresses his identity as an artist - closely interwoven with its surroundings. On his family farm, his first school, he learned to work with wood at an early age and explored its possibilities, limitations, and unique qualities, The materialities, limitations, and unique qualities, the Material quickly became a familiar partner, mundane yet full of potential. This early relationship continues to shape his mindful approach to his work to the day. For Meredith, making is a constant dialogue between material and hand, between observing and intervening - a dynamic interplay inherent in all his works.
Through his architectural studies at University College Dublin, he expanded his thinking to encompass the dimensions of space, structure and proportion. Since then his work has fused architectural sensitivity with artisnal precision into a language that is both physical and conceptual. His series of works allow him to develop ideas gradually while leaving room for experimentation. He places particular focus on his distinctive surfaces treatment : scorching, fuming, smoking or sandblasting - always with the aim of emphasising the essence of the wood.
Meredith’s works move freely between sculpture and function. At the same time, he shifts effortlessly across scales : from small objects that invite intimate engagement to large scale installations in common is a clear language, characterised by volume, lines and proportion. Despite their formal rigour, the retain a palpable warmth, born of a deep familiarity with wood, it’s final quality often only revealing itself through direct interaction.
Alan Meredith born in 1991, studied architecture at University College Dublin, earning his Master’s Degree in 2015. After returning to his family farm ‘The Oak, in County Laois, he established his own studio there, where he designs furniture and sculpture. His work has received international recognition, including exhibitions at Salon in the Park Avenue Armory, New York ( 2025 ) and Collect 2025 in London, where it was nominated for the Brookfield Craft Prize. Meredith’s practice has also been honoured with prestigious awards, most notable the Golden Fleece Special Award ( 2023 ). His works are held in prominent public and private collections, including the Irish Embassy in Helsinki, and IPUT Real Estate Dublin, Additionally, he contributed as an exhibitor to the Irish Pavilion at The Venice Architecture Biennale 2025.
