Irene Haney

I’m a self-taught painter working at the intersection of creativity and reality — which, in my case, means balancing a corporate career with a lifelong need to make art. Painting has always been the constant through moves, deadlines, and life decisions. While I still work in the corporate world, I’m carving out more space for my creative practice — and hoping, one day, the balance might shift.

I’ve lived in Italy, Spain, Argentina, Canada, and the Netherlands, and my work reflects that mix of places, feelings, and light. Portugal, especially, left its mark — its tiles, sea tones, and everyday beauty still show up on my canvas.

I work mostly in acrylics, blending figurative realism with surreal and symbolic elements. Sardines, shrimp, golden forks, and tile patterns often appear — ordinary things made slightly strange.

My paintings explore identity, nostalgia, and emotion — but always with color, playfulness, and a sense of vivid, unapologetic aliveness.