Public Art Now: Reflections & Futures

CHRISTINE MACKEY
Environmental studio-based artist at the Leitrim Sculpture Centre, where Mackey’s focus is research led on the complex ecologies of plant life through the subject of the seed cultivated through a range of site-specific and socially engaged contexts. In 2018, Mackey Completed Fulbright Award pursuing independent research across educational institutions and residency programmes in the States. On-going projects include The Potting Shed (2014 -) through ArtLink, Donegal, which opened up a new garden and studio space inside a defunct military environment; addressing pressing environmental issues in relation to the geopolitical control of seeds continues through Seed Matter (2010—). Recent solo projects include: The Long Field residency and solo exhibition at the Leitrim Sculpture Centre exploring hedgerow systems as sites of resistance and change, contentious rogue habitats between ‘wild’ nature and systemic land use (2021); Safe Hold – Public art commission and exhibition at the Wexford Arts Centre (2020) raised awareness about the plight of wild pollinators, empowering communities to actively engage in solutions for habitat loss and transform underutilized sites into sustainable pollen communal spaces. Current research involves plants as phyto-remediators for damaged water and soil systems co structured as woven floating gardens Mesocosm through Ecoshowboat environmental residency project (2022). Her work is supported by The Arts Council of Ireland, Visual Bursary Award, 2022. Commissioned work for publications includes Politics of Food MIT Press Delfina Foundation, 2020; Becoming Botanical, Object-a-Creative Studio, Glasgow, 2019 and Mutating Ecologies in Contemporary Art, MACBA University of Barcelona, 2018.

CIARA ROCHE
Ciara Roche received her MA Art Research and Collaboration (2019) and a BA in Visual Arts Practice (2015) from the Institute of Art Design and Technology/IADT. Recent solo exhibitions include honeymoon at Butler Gallery Kilkenny (2024), Nightcall at the Ashford Gallery, RHA (2022); of late… at mother’s tankstation, Dublin (2021); Here and Away, The LAB, Dublin (2019); and St Carthage Hall, Lismore Castle Arts, Waterford (2016). She has exhibited widely in two-person and group exhibitions including in Purdy Hicks Gallery, London; The Glucksman, Cork, Greystone Industries, UK, Solstice Arts Centre, Navan, Wexford Arts Centre. Roche is a recipient of the 2022 Next Generation Award, numerous Arts Council & ArtLinks Bursaries and won the Éigse Graduate Prize for outstanding work in VISUAL with Carlow Arts Festival in 2020. Her work is represented in many private and public collections throughout Europe, America and China.

ASTRID NEWMAN
Astrid Newman is a Visual Artist based in Co. Wicklow. She works collaboratively, hosting moments of collective gathering. She has presented work in Market Gallery Glasgow, Royal Irish Academy Dublin, RAT HOLE Tokyo, Glebe House Donegal and The Fruitmarket Gallery Edinburgh. She is co-founder of conch, a project that originated as a coffee bar that was developed to facilitate discussions around contemporary art and later transformed into conch.fyi, an online platform with interviews on isograph prints from over 50 artists worldwide, conducted on paper, over coffee. Recently, and together with Oisin Gallagher and Jordan Pilling, she worked on developing Apricity, an evening with..., a nomadic project centred around contemporary art, food and hospitality. She is a recipient of an Arts Council Project Award and Agility Award.

BECKS BUTLER
Becks Butler (he/they) is an innovation and transformation consultant and educator, helping organisations adopt creative methodologies and mindsets that spark innovation, solve complex problems, and drive meaningful change. He works at Griffith College, co-leading strategic digital initiatives and design-led transformation. As Chair of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee and Athena SWAN Project Lead, Becks promotes policies and practices that enhance staff and student experiences. Becks lectures at UCD Smurfit, delivering content on user-centric innovation, problem-solving, design thinking and leadership. As Partner and Co-Founder at New Wave Innovation Agency, their clients include Aer Lingus, Kerry Group, Cosentino, PTSB, and ICON Plc. Becks’ works have been acquired by the Royal Irish Academy, the OPW State Collection, and private collectors. They were nominated as FUTURES Irish Talent, commissioned by Culture Ireland’s Ireland Performs, and received the Arts Council’s Agility Award. Becks is committed to reshaping how organisations think, work and grow through creativity.

MARIA MCKINNEY
Maria McKinney makes work through a range of media including sculpture, installation, photography and video. She combines handcraft with response to context, collaborating with scientists and farmers to produce projects that explore ideas surrounding genomics and agriculture. Her work was included in the four-person exhibition Somewhere in Between at the Welcome Collection, London UK in 2018. She was shortlisted for the inaugural MAC International Prize 2014 selected by Hugh Mulholland, Judith Nesbitt and Francesco Bonami. Her work is part of the collections of the Museum of English Rural Life in Reading UK, Europol, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Office of Public Works and Bank of Ireland.

RUAIRÍ O’CUIV
Ruairí Ó Cuív was Public Art Officer with Dublin City Council from 2008 to 2023. Previously he was an independent curator and arts consultant specialising in public art, exhibition curation, feasibility studies, evaluation and research. He was director of Temple Bar Gallery and Studios (1991–96) and curator of exhibitions at the Douglas Hyde Gallery (1989–91) and Royal Hospital Kilmainham (1987–89).

LAR O’TOOLE
Currently living in County Wexford. O’Toole is visual artist working mostly in sculpture, photography and video He has a Masters in Art and Process.