Sara Flynn is a distinguished Irish ceramic artist, renowned for her masterful use of porcelain. Born in Cork, Ireland, Flynn's early affinity for art led her to the Crawford College of Art & Design, where she initially intended to study painting. Her discovery of ceramics prompted a shift in focus to clay, captivated by the diverse possibilities it offered for expression. A meticulous approach to form and her exploration of the interplay between volume, balance, and surface has garnered her widespread acclaim.

Upon completing her formal education, Flynn set up her first studio in Co. Cork in 2000.  Subsequently, she was based in West Cork, and then until recently, Northern Ireland.  She now lives in Co. Cork where she produces work that is recognised for its fluid, elegant shapes, accentuated by glazes in a broad spectrum of colours.  Flynn pushes the boundaries of her craft, constantly experimenting with new structures.  

She writes, My love of form, line and volume is expressed through the qualities and scope of my chosen material, which is porcelain. Of great importance is the potential of new and exciting edges, contours and shapes which can be explored through an understanding of the material’s qualities and my increasing skill.

Her ability to manipulate porcelain with such precision and artistry has made her a prominent figure in the ceramics community.  She has been an invited speaker and demonstrator over the years throughout Europe, Japan and the USA, a testament to the demand and appreciation for her unique vision and craftsmanship.

Flynn’s talent and dedication have earned her numerous accolades throughout her career.  Her work is exhibited widely and featured in many international museum collections, including The Art Institute of Chicago, The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.  She was shortlisted for the inaugural Loewe Craft Prize in 2017 and has served on its Experts Panel since 2018, and is looking forward to continuing this role in 2025.  

What immediately attracted me to Sara Flynn’s pots, when I first saw them in County Cork in 2013, was the combination of the rather formal black exterior with the highly informal pinches and squeezes. They are extremely tactile and at the same time abstract and rather distant. — excerpt from The Duke of Devonshire's essay in our Sara Flynn exhibition catalogue produced in 2018 

Solo Exhibitions

1. Sara Flynn 4 - 25 September 2024
2. Sara Flynn 8 June - 7 July 2022
3. Sara Flynn 6 - 29 October 2020
4. Sara Flynn - 2018 Solo Exhibition 3 - 25 October 2018
5. Sara Flynn - 2016 Solo Exhibition 30 November 2016 - 12 January 2017
6. Sara Flynn - 2014 Solo Exhibition 5 - 27 November 2014
7. Sara Flynn - 2012 Solo Exhibition 14 November - 6 December 2012

Group Exhibitions

1. Small Works, Great Artists 28 February - 21 March 2024
2. Winter Exhibition 12 - 21 December 2023
3. Small Works, Great Artists 4 - 27 April 2023
4. International Ceramics 28 February - 10 March 2023
5. TEN GREAT WORKS 11 - 28 October 2022
6. Small Works, Great Artists 15 February - 11 March 2022
7. Small Works, Great Artists 19 March - 6 April 2021
8. TEA BOWLS BY 9 ARTISTS - Online Exhibition 15 - 29 April 2020
9. Small Works, Great Artists 18 February - 15 March 2020
10. Winter Exhibition 7 - 21 December 2019
11. Small Works, Great Artists 26 February - 21 March 2019