about gillian
aRTIST sTATEMENT
Gillian O’Shea is an emerging visual Irish artist. Her practice explores themes of transformation and
escapism through ambitious large-scale works that offer the public exciting new ways to engage with
contemporary art. O’Shea’s multidisciplinary immersive installations feature paper and fabric
sculptures, lighting and audio arranged to invite the viewer to escape their everyday routines. Gillian
graduated in 2004 with a first-class honour’s degree in fine art interdisciplinary sculpture and holds a
Masters in Art and Research Collaboration from IADT. Over the past 10 years she has exhibited in
Dublin, London and California. In 2019 O’Shea’s participatory installation, ‘Dawn’ was selected for
the 4th International Techstyle Art Biennial in San Jose USA, and in 2019 her ‘Lockdown’ painting
work was shortlisted for the Zurich Portrait Prize at the National Gallery of Ireland.
Artist CV
Education:
2022 MA in Art & Research Collaboration, IADT, Dun Laoghaire
2011 Professional qualification in Accounting, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
2004 B.A. (1st Class Hons.) in Fine Art specialising in Interdisciplinary Sculpture, DIT
Solo Exhibitions:
2023 All Flesh, GOMA Gallery of Modern Art Waterford, Ireland. Curator Siobh McGrane
2018 Dawn, Mart Gallery and LIVESTOCK, Dublin, Ireland. Curators Deirdre Morrissey and Francis Fay (LIVESTOCK)
2018 Monthly Exhibition, Lennons @ Visual, Carlow, Ireland
2017 Vogue in the Afternoon, Kilkenny Arts Festival Fringe, Kilkenny, Ireland
2017 Titanium, Mimosa, Carlow Arts Festival Fringe, Carlow, Ireland
2017 Blush, The Pigyard Gallery, Wexford, Ireland
2016 Dabble in Art, The Copperhouse Gallery, Dublin, Ireland
2016 Showcase in the Potting Shed, The Old Yard, Kildare, Ireland
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2021 IADT MA Graduate Exhibition, LAB Gallery, Dublin, Ireland. Curator Astrid Newman
2021 Packed, Collaboration with Nicki Crock for, Riffe Gallery, Ohio, USA
2020 Zurich Portrait Prize 2020, Crawford Art Gallery, Cork, Ireland
2020 Zurich Portrait Prize 2020, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
2019 Social Commons, Liberty Hall Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. Curators Siobh McGrane
and Kathryn Maguire
2019 Stranger than Fiction, Millepiani, Rome, Italy. Curator LoosenArt
2019 Picture Imperfect, Dlr Lexicon Gallery and LIVESTOCK, Dublin, Ireland. Curator Francis Fay (LIVESTOCK)
2019 International TECHstyle Art Biennial IV, SJMQT, San Jose, USA. Curator Amy DiPlacido
2018 Watercolour Society of Ireland Annual Exhibition, Farmleigh House, Dublin, Ireland
2018 Altered, Minnesota Street Project, San Francisco, USA. Curators Kathrine Worel and Emmanuelle Namont Kouznetsov (OFFspace)
2018 Femme, VfD – Vogue Fabrics, London, UK. Curator Kat Hudson.
2018 140th Annual Exhibition, Dublin Painting & Sketching Club, Dublin, Ireland
2017 No Fixed Abode, The Copperhouse Gallery, Dublin, Ireland
2017 Fresh Paint, Picton Gallery, Pembrokeshire, UK. Curators Nicky Philipps, Susie Philipps and Chris Newell
2017 Pin Up, Classic Cars West, Oakland Art Murmur, San Francisco, USA. Curators
Kathrine Worel and Emmanuelle Namont Kouznetsov (OFFspace)
2017 Chelsea Fringe Festival, Oxford House, London, UK. Curator Fiona Polard.
2017 Annual Group Exhibition, Green Acres Gallery, Wexford, Ireland
2004 Green Tea, Joint exhibition with John Mayock, Cockleshell Gallery, Wexford, Ireland
2004 Platform 059, Carlow Institute of Technology, Eigse Arts Festival, Carlow, Ireland
2004 DIT Fine Art Graduate Show, Portland Row, Dublin, Ireland
Awards:
2021 Street Art & Spectacle Bursary Award 2021, Arts Council of Ireland
2020 Shortlisted for the Zurich Portrait Prize Award, National Gallery of Ireland
2004 Student of Academic Excellence, DIT School of Art, Design & Printmaking
2004 Best Fine Art Student, final year DIT School of Art, Design & Printmaking
Selected Artist Residencies:
2022 Studio Kura Artist in Residence Program, 1-month Residency Japan