Constellations Press launching new art imprint with Ike Quirk monograph “Hey, Ike”, published Nov 27, 2026, priced at £40, with launch event on Nov 26, 2026 at Indra Gallery.
Independent publisher Constellations Press is stepping into the fine art world. Founded in Buckinghamshire in 2023 by Jill Glenn and Claire Steele, the press has built a strong reputation for championing bold, risk-taking literature that explores our diverse humanity. Now, they are marking a natural evolution for the company with the launch of a dedicated art imprint—and its inaugural publication is a striking monograph by Irish artist Ike Quirk, titled Hey, Ike.
Publishing on 27 November 2026 (with a launch event on 26 November 2026 at the Indra Gallery, 20 East Road, London N1 6AT), the 160-page hardback volume offers a deep dive into Quirk’s formative artistic practice between January 2025 and June 2026.
The Art of Human Connection
At the heart of Hey, Ike is an exploration of random encounters, overheard conversations, and the profound emotional impact of fleeting human interactions. Quirk’s large-scale mixed-media paintings take their initial inspiration from catalytic phrases exchanged with strangers, friends, and family.
Key moments of inspiration embedded across the series include:
- An encounter with a fellow traveler while walking with his son on the Camino in 2024, remembering the sentiment: “Thanks for your vulnerability and telling me these things.”
- A line from a poem sent by his cousin, the poet Mary Walsh: “Later, none of this will matter.”
- Powerful words from his daughter: “You did everything you could for me so far.”
These phrases find their way onto the canvas, sometimes peeking through or being entirely obscured by rich, visceral layers.
Physical Process and Materiality
Quirk’s artistic process is intensely physical, reflecting his background and daily life as a farmer in Cork, Ireland. Eschewing traditional paintbrushes, he incorporates industrial and agricultural equipment into his studio practice, including veterinary syringes, crop sprayers, heavy-duty household brushes, and towels.
Working on vast canvases and heavy paper, Quirk builds up his signature textures using a dynamic combination of:
- Acrylic
- Gesso
- Charcoal
- Tea
The resulting works balance transparency with heavy viscosity, capturing the passage of time, memory, and the residue of human emotion. Featuring a foreword by Timea Junghaus, Hey, Ike presents these textured masterpieces alongside lively conversations about art and life.
Book & Event Details
- Title: Hey, Ike
- Artist: Ike Quirk
- Foreword by: Timea Junghaus
- Publisher: Constellations Press
- Publication Date: 27 November 2026 (Launch Event: 26 November 2026 at Indra Gallery, London)
- Format: Hardback
- Extent: 160 pages
- Price: £40
- ISBN: 9781917000215
Visit the publisher’s website at www.constellationspress.co.uk or on social media at @constellationspress.