Helen O’Leary was born in Ireland. She has been honored with the Rome Prize American Academy in Rome, Hennessy Purchase Award, IMMA, Dublin, John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship; two Pollock-Krasner awards; the Joan Mitchell Award for painting and sculpture; Research Awards from Penn State University, and several grants from the Arts Council of Ireland.  She currently lives in Drumshanbo, Ireland and Jersey City, USA.