This is the work of Margaret Nolan, the talented artist who moved west from Dublin in the 1980s and has, in recent years, been painting the city’s electrical boxes, transforming the dull and grey into vibrant artistic creations full of vibrancy and colour.
Margaret is what people would describe as a talented all-round artist. Not only does she paint murals of different sizes, but she also teaches graffiti art, does pottery, felt making, curates arts exhibitions and festivals (she is behind the Galway Cartoon Festival and the Grá Festival) and more.
Margaret explained to the Irish Independent she moved from her native Dublin to Galway for love back in the 1980s but arts has always been “in her blood”.
“I’ve always worked in the arts. My mother’s side of the family, they were very artistic. It was always in my blood.
“I was the youngest of five. My mom wanted one of us to go into the arts. That was my kind of rebellion, I said no, I’m not going to be studying arts. I rebelled until I was around 18. And then I finally said, okay, it is me.”
She added how her characteristic style made of colour and thick lines comes from her years in college.
“I majored in printmaking in college. With screenprint especially you get a bold, thick, black line, so that’s why I do that in my painting as well. People say that they know my work. You know, everybody has a different style, but my style is very bold colours and quite thick black lines as well.”
Once in Galway city, Margaret began working with Macnas before starting her own business in murals and sign making three years later. Since then, she has committed to make the city beautiful and colourful.
Margaret Nolan has been painting the walls of Galway for years
“I set up my own business, making signs and murals. I do massive murals, I’ve worked with big contractors, like Guinness, Heineken and Coca Cola. And then I do very local signs and murals and stuff all over the city as well.
“Most of my work is very colourful. I try to bring joy to the grey world.”
Four decades later, wherever you are in Galway City, you are probably just a few metres from one of Margaret’s creations.
Among them, Margaret is also the artist behind the painted electricity boxes, a project that began in recent years in partnership with Galway City Council and Tidy Towns.
Many of the grey – and ugly – boxes across the city centre are now covered in paint with subjects inspired by “beauty and nature” in a successful attempt to make Galway prettier.
Margaret Nolan has been painting the walls of Galway for years
Talking about her creating process, Margaret explained that before painting in public she has a long talk with herself at home, but the inspiration for her art always comes once she is in front of one of those boxes.
“I have to build myself up to it. Because it’s a big deal to go out on the street, sit down and start painting. For me it’s like the whole city is an audience.
She added: “I don’t think too much about what to put on it. I usually let the box tell me what to paint on it.
“You kind of have to go straight into it, and not be indecisive. My indecisive start is at home when I’m talking to myself, trying to gear myself up to go out. But once I’m sitting in front of it, you just start and go.”
She explained how she usually needs about four hours to paint a box and she completes her projects in one sitting as she is completely focused on her work.
Margaret Nolan
“I know when I’m finished, I work until I’m done. I’m very focused, usually I don’t stop until I’m done.”
However, sometimes she notices young curious eyes observing her.
“Sometimes I’ll be painting, I turn around and there’ll be about ten kids just sitting on the ground, really quietly watching, and it’s just beautiful.
“They won’t mess, they’ll always just be really, really quiet and love it.
“They will maybe be saying to their mom, ‘is she allowed to do that?’ Because usually you’re not allowed to draw on the wall.”
She added her job also includes touch ups as her art can get ruined, mostly because of the elements, sometimes – but definitely rarely – because of vandalism.
Margaret Nolan painted electricity boxes across Galway City centre
“Sometimes they do get ruined. Mostly it’s the elements that get them.
“Although there was one, the one with the dancer, somebody had scratched her mouth. So I repainted that one a few weeks ago. But it very rarely happens.”
Since the 80s, the city has become more and more colourful and Margaret has become one of the iconic artists based in the city.
As her art became famous, people started recognizing her even without a brush in her hand as she explained she is still getting used to it.
“I do get stopped in the street. I was getting shopping in dunes the other day and I was just waiting to pay. And this older lady came to me and said I really love what you do. Your paintings are beautiful.
“And I’m just like oh thanks. It was so lovely, but I didn’t know who she was and she knew me.”
Margaret Nolan painting electricity boxes in Galway City
“It’s lovely. It’s always very positive, never a negative response.”
Margaret added how over the years she had also learnt to appreciate her own art and look behind the “imperfections”.
“I think most artists are critical of their own art.
“So when I paint [a mural or a box], I need to walk away from it and spend about three days away from it. Then I go back, I look at it and I say wow, that’s really cool.
“Because I don’t realise it in the moment, I’m being too critical as and I’m seeing the mistakes, but most people won’t see that. But then when I come back, like three days later, I’m like ‘it’s perfect’.