ABOUT THE ARTIST

BASED ON A PHOTOGRAPH THAKE DURING THE POPE'S VISIT TI IRELAND IN 1980

Bronze statue of pope John Paul II embracing two kneeling children, based on a photograph taken during the Pope's visit in 1980.

Imogen Stuart (née Werner) was a German-Irish sculptor who passed away on March 24, 2024, at the age of 96.  

Born in Berlin in 1927, she was indeed the daughter of the renowned art critic Bruno E. Werner. As you mentioned, she began sculpting at a young age, but her artistic journey was interrupted by the rise of the Nazi Party, which prompted her and her family to flee Germany.  

After the war, Stuart's family reunited and she continued her artistic pursuits, eventually moving to Ireland in 1949 after marrying the Irish artist Ian Stuart. Throughout her career, Stuart produced a wide range of sculptures, primarily in wood and stone, for both ecclesiastical and secular settings. Her work is renowned for its expressive qualities and often draws inspiration from early Irish Christian art and Celtic mythology.  

Some of her notable works include the Stations of the Cross at the Curragh Camp, the main doors and reliefs at Galway Cathedral, and the altar carvings at the Honan Chapel in Cork.  

Imogen Stuart was a significant figure in the Irish art world, and her legacy continues to inspire and influence contemporary artists.