A Donegal artist is set to experience a ‘pinch me moment’ when her art is showcased on one of the world-famous billboards on Times Square in New York.
Jennifer Sweeney is from Buncrana and had a real passion for art from a young age.
This passion and talent are now set to dazzle thousands of people from across the world, both in Times Square and in a live, online stream.
Jennifer told Donegal Daily the ‘surreal milestone’ is one she ‘never imagined would become reality.’
She said she is ‘incredibly proud’ to represent both Donegal and Ireland through her art.
The showcase is being run by Streeters Gallery and only a handful of artists are selected.
Jennifer described her art as ‘abstract’ and she paints on canvass, but her piece has been digitised for the showcase.
Art, for Jennifer, is ‘an outlet and cathartic.’
She said: “It’s my way of letting stuff out. I feel different about my art in a way that I don’t push myself a lot and I do it to make myself feel good.
“But, this in Times Square is different. I’m definitely very proud and really excited.”
“It’s a bit of a ‘pinch me’ moment.
“I only really make art about three or four times a year, when I’m in the mood or if I have lived through different experiences.
One of Jennifer Sweeney’s works.
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“I sometimes paint memories and to viewers it might look like colour or splatter on canvass, but I know how each stroke, colour or shape means represents something.”
The art that will appear in Times Square represents the first half of this year.
“I do a lot of yoga and breathwork classes and it’s a very colourful image of a euphoric breakthrough I had and sort of represents a release of the first half of the year.
“It has reds and a pastels and a little bit of green and it’s a new piece.
“I get excited when I create new pieces.”
Jennifer has been creating art for as long as she ‘can remember’.
“As a child, I was always painting and drawing. I used to do all the art classes in Tullyarvan Mill and classes with Geraldine Timlin.
Jennifer also credited her former art teacher at Scoil Mhuire at Buncrana, Ms Rois Deeney, with further encouraging and fostering her talent and love for art.
Jennifer has held several exhibitions in San Franciso, where she previously lived.
She now lives in New York and told how having her work displayed in its legendary Times Square is ‘one of the proudest moments of my art career’.
The showcase will take place on Sunday, 30th August.
If you’re in New York, head to 1560 Broadway, with the best view from Duffy Square, above the Pele store.
You can also watch the live stream via the Times Square live stream on that day here.
The showcase displays every hour from 12am to 11.59pm with at least 22 plays across the day.
Jennifer’s name and Instagram handle (https://www.instagram.com/jennifersweeneyart) will appear next to her work.