“Without art,
the crudeness of reality
would make the world unbearable.
– George Bernard Shaw
This special edition, which features all your cover artworks
for Live Encounters Poetry & Writing in 2025,
is our acknowledgement of your fabulous contribution
to the promotion of the Arts worldwide.
Thank you, Emma.
Mark Ulyseas, Publisher/Editor
Emma Barone is a vibrant force in contemporary art, celebrated for her dynamic acrylic paintings that move fluidly between still life, abstraction, and landscape.
Over the course of her career, she has presented 23 solo exhibitions, each one expanding the language of her practice. Her most recent show, ORB, is a striking meditation on the spherical form—an exploration that blends precision with playfulness, inviting viewers to contemplate the exploration of the spherical form, a symbol of wholeness and unity.
Her creative output is not limited to the canvas. In collaboration with writer and poet Eileen Casey, Emma co-authored two books, projects that reveal her versatility and willingness to traverse disciplines in pursuit of new forms of expression.
Yet Emma’s influence extends well beyond the walls of galleries. With a deep commitment to the relationship between art and well-being, she has recently graduated with a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Arts and Health at NCAD Dublin.
Emma has become a vital presence in community and healthcare contexts. As an arts facilitator, she approaches her work with an intuitive, process-led philosophy, creating environments where participant voices lead the way. The result is art as a shared experience—an avenue for connection, transformation, and healing.
Her paintings can be found in both private and public collections, including The Irish Hospice Foundation, Midlands Regional Hospital, Offaly County Council, and The Amsterdam World Trade Centre. Recognition of her contribution to the intersection of creativity and care came in 2023, when she received the Anam Beo Mentoring Award for her pioneering role in arts and health initiatives.
Emma is also an active member of Visual Artists Ireland and the Crafts Council of Ireland, communities that reflect her dedication to fostering artistic dialogue and collaboration.
A multifaceted career such as hers demonstrates the breadth of what art can be—personal expression, community practice, and cultural legacy. Through her paintings, publications, and participatory projects, Emma continues to affirm her belief in the power of art to enrich lives, transform communities, and leave a lasting imprint both inside and outside the studio.
