Features Overview
RCSI Art Award in association with the RHA Gallery and The Irish Times
As part of the award, Nolan will receive the RCSI Silver Medal as well as €5,000 to progress her practice and a commission to the value of €10,000 to create a new work for the RCSI Art Collection.
Artist Residency Presentations at Hordaland Kunstsenter, Bergen
As artists in residence at the Textile Industry Museum in Salhus, Norway. Ally Nolan and Anna-Maria Saar share insights into their practices at a public event hosted by HKS.
Sustaining the Arts – Excellence in Local Government Awards
Nolan was a lead artist on Borris Lace by Post & Exchange recognised by Chambers Ireland for its excellence in arts-led community engagement.
Arts Council Ireland – Agility Award Recipient 2023
Awarded funding to support the development of new work and the advancement of artistic practice.
Craftwork 4.0 – Commissioned Artist
Commissioned to create textile works and tutorials demonstrating traditional and contemporary Irish craft techniques.
Festival of Craft Workshop – University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Swansea
Nolan co-led a Craft Hub Festival workshop with the Borris Lacemakers, sharing Irish lace techniques with participants in Swansea.
Commission– Expo Dubai, Irish Pavilion 2022
Commissioned to create a textile work merging Irish and Islamic motifs for the Ireland Pavilion at Expo 2022 Dubai; the piece is now part of the Chester Beatty’s permanent collection. The commission was supported by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs.
Maker-in-Residence – Chester Beatty
Developed textile and fashion-based workshops for the Teen Lab programme and delivered train-the-trainer sessions to support facilitators in integrating textile methods into ongoing programming.
Irish Independent – “Stars of the Future” Feature
Highlighted by the Irish Independent as one of the rising designers to watch ahead of the Dublin Fashion Festival’s Young Designer of the Year competition.
Irish Times Selects Ally Nolan’s “The Men/Na Fir” as a Must-See Work at the RHA 2025 Exhibition
“Nolan is an award-winning fashion graduate with a master’s in art history, a background that tells in this richly complex work that brings the original black-and-white print to life. It shows the vibrancy of the layers of knowledge embedded in the legacies of craft, while underlining the craft embodied in some of today’s technologies.” -Gemma Tipton
New Work from Lisbon Residency on View at NowHere Lisboa
Created during a three-month residency in Almada, Nolan’s new textile works honour the craft, resilience, and stories of the Portuguese Redeiras, highlighting the shared traditions that connect Portuguese and Irish textile heritage.
Borris Lace Exchange Exhibition Opening at Borris House
The Borris Lace by Post & Exchange exhibition was unveiled at Borris House, presenting new work rooted in Carlow’s lace-making heritage.
Craft Hub EU – Final Conference, Oslo
Nolan attended the project’s closing conference in Oslo, joining craft communities from across Europe who contributed to this multi-year collaboration.
Borris Lace Exchange – MateraHub, Matera, Italy
As part of the Borris Lace Exchange, Nolan facilitated a cross-cultural craft exchange and workshop at MateraHub in Italy.
Borris Lace Exchange Documentary Preview
A preview of the forthcoming documentary showcases the collaborative, intergenerational craft work involving the Borris Lacemakers, community groups, and project artists including Nolan.
Opening of Orchard Craft Studio (2019)
Inspired by her work co-developing a textile lab in Northern France, Nolan founded The Orchard Craft Studio to provide a local hub for textile learning, creativity, and community engagement.
Future/Fashion Award Winner – Festival of Curiosity
Award recognising interdisciplinary innovation between textiles and technology, supported by Science Foundation Ireland, the CONNECT Centre (TCD), and the British Council Ireland.
Metro Herald / Forever 21 Design Award – Winner (Team Lead)
Nolan led a team to win the Metro Herald and Forever 21 Design Award.
Ally Nolan Exhibits in “Breaking the Patterns” at the Gallery of Modern Art, Waterford (11–25 October 2025)
An exhibition of emerging Irish and European artistic talent, launched by Capacity Ireland in association with Creative Europe, the Arts Council of Ireland, and the local authority arts services of Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, and Waterford.
ArtLinks Bursary Award Recipient
Selected by a multi-county panel supporting emerging and mid-career artists across the South-East region.
Craft Hub EU Practitioner Profile
Nolan is profiled in the Craft Hub EU Catalogue, highlighting her research-led textile practice combining heritage craft with contemporary technologies.
EU Craft Hub International Exhibition – VISUAL, Carlow
Nolan’s work was included in the Craft Hub EU exhibition at VISUAL, alongside a live in-gallery workshop with the Borris Lacemakers.
Borris Lace by Post – Exhibition Opening
Created in response to Covid-19, Borris Lace by Post linked lacemakers, care-home residents, artists, and the wider community to share Borris Lace traditions—work now showcased in this exhibition.
Maker in Residence – Écomusée de l’Avesnois, France (2018)
Worked with the Écomusée team to co-develop a textile lab and sewing studio dedicated to regional craft heritage, revitalisation, and community engagement.
University Times Feature-“Shedding Light on Wearable Tech” (2017)
A profile exploring Nolan’s work at the intersection of textiles and emerging technology.
