THE PEOPLE’S Museum of Limerick is opening a new exhibition in memory of a prolific Limerick artist who passed tragically in October 2021.
Bonnie Hickey, a native Limerick creative who dedicated her artistic endeavours to capturing the beauty of boxing on canvas, will have a selection of works shown at the People’s Museum of Limerick from August 19 to 27 in a commemorative exhibition as part of the Heritage Week 2022 lineup.
Many visitors who have frequented the museum may have seen Bonnie’s work on display in 2020 in a previous exhibition. Unfortunately, Bonnie passed away in 2021 before she could bring even more beautiful and thought-provoking artwork to the people of Limerick city.
In honour of her memory, and the legacy of work she left behind, the People’s Museum is displaying a number of her pieces, with a selection of prints of Bonnie’s work also for sale. Funds raised will be donated to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.
Bonnie’s work was inspired by her uncle, Limerick boxing hero and former WBO middleweight world title holder Andy Lee. Bonnie, who graduated from the Limerick School of Art and Design, often used her uncle’s sparring sessions to spark the embers of her thought-provoking works.
William O’Neill, curator of the Bonnie Hickey Commemorative exhibition, said: “Bonnie’s work is really eye-catching, and her legacy of work will speak for itself. There is a flow to the work, and you can see the action in each image.”
Bonnie’s mother Dawn Hickey added that “Bonnie was a sensitive soul, full of curiosity, love, and compassion.”
“Her art was imbued with her spirit. She brought humanity and energy to all the subjects of her paintings. She was a special talent who we hope can be appreciated for many years to come. She would have been so proud to have an exhibition of her work in her home city of Limerick,” Dawn said.
