The Cow House Family & Staff
Cow House Studios is a family run business. Established in 2007 by artists Rosie O’Gorman and Frank Abruzzese, the running of the studio and farm now involves the whole family. Co-Directors Rosie and Frank are responsible for the day-to-day management of the studios, including program scheduling and curriculum development. Rosie and Frank are also the primary teachers for the workshops and courses. Both of Rosie’s younger sisters, Edel and Sinead, work with Cow House. Sinead assists with teaching and, as our studio manager, keeps everything well organized. Edel is responsible for much of the behind the scenes activities that make Cow House run smoothly.
Rosie’s parents Michael & Mary have a significant presence at Cow House; they keep the grounds in pristine condition and provide a welcoming atmosphere to our guests. Over the years, Michael has populated the fields with handmade swings, chairs and inventive sculptures made from old farm machinery, he is a craftsperson in his own right and always curious to see what’s happening in the studio. Mary is a fantastic cook, and along with the occasional dessert, homemade jam or fresh loaf of bread continues to advise Frank and Caitriona in the kitchen, ensuring that everyone who visits the studios can have a taste of the delicious food Rosie and her sisters enjoyed growing up.
In addition to the family, we are delighted to have Ann Maria Healy, Mathilde Ganancia, Damien Flood, Laura Fitzgerald, and Paul Gaffney as associate artists. In addition to participating in a residency annually, these four artists teach during our summer program Art on the Farm and our gap year program FieldWorks. Above all else, our associate artists are highly accomplished practicing artists who are committed to working with young people and represent a diverse set of artistic practices ranging from painting to sculpture, installation, performance, video, and photography. In their young careers, all have exhibited widely whilst receiving recognition for their exceptional work as recipients of numerous grants and awards.