Kiera O’Toole
Through fieldwork, material and philosophical research, neurodiverse PhD researcher and artist Kiera O’Toole creates site-specific drawings, drawing installations and stop-motion animations, which explore the emotional vibrations of places.
Kiera O’Toole studied in Ireland and Australia and received her Masters degree of Philosophy and Fine Art from Newcastle University in 2013.
She is a founding member of the artist collective Drawing de-Centered, professional member of Visual Arts Ireland and the Drawing research Network (UK). For seven years she held a studio at The Model in Sligo, where she is currently based and also works as a casual lecturer at the Master’s level at Atlantic Technological University.
Presently, O’Toole is a PhD researcher in Creative Arts at Loughborough University (UK).
Her practice deals with the hidden, intimate relationships that connect humans with non-humans and tries to capture or map these relationships through drawing.
O’Toole’s work focuses on documenting everyday atmospheres and their specific spatial emotions, rather than her private emotions, highlighting our entanglement with the world.
Solo Shows
- 2023 RHA, Weaved Drawing, Atrium, Dublin
- 2021 CCA Derry. Commission for site-specific drawing, Derry. NL
- 2020 Drawing Wonder, Project Anywhere Global Exhibition, Uni. of Melbourne and Parsons School of Art (USA)
- 2019 Quietus, Commissioned by Sligo Arts Service
- 2019 Warning, curated by Rosie Naylor, Edinburgh. SCO.
- 2016 Betwixt and Between, Tinahely Courthouse Arts Centre, Wicklow
- 2014 Lines of Negotiation III, Centre for Creative Practices, Dublin
- 2013 Romantic Ireland Dead and Gone’, Mount-Kuring Regional Gallery, AUS
- 2013 Romantic Ireland’s Dead and Gone, Gosford Regional Gallery. AUS
- 2012 Beyond the Pale: Australia, The University Gallery Newcastle. AUS
Group shows
- 2023 RHA, invited to exhibit for annual open call
Drawing Box International, Onkaf Art Foundation, Mumbai, IN - Atmospheres: 1, Drawing deCentered, Leitrim Sculpture Centre
- 2022 Beyond Drawing, curated by Arno Kramer, Uilleann West Cork Arts Centre.
Walking Kesshcorran, A collaborative project and exhibition - 2021 Landscape, Ecology & Environment, residency and exhibition, LSC N I N E | Matters’, Hyde Bridge Gallery, Sligo
- 2020 Wonder Stones, public art, Caidre Arts festival,
- Drawing Wonder, Platform Arts Belfast Highlanes Gallery Open Submission
- Beyond Drawing, curated by Arno Kramer, Ballina Arts Centre,
- 2019 Someone who was standing apart from me, (Greig Burgoyne, UK), MART.
- 2017 Artist Select, Arno Kramer ,The Model Home of the Niland Collection
- 2017 Sonic Drawing, in collaboration with Donna Legault, Leitrim Sculpture Centre
- Testing, Catalyst Arts (NL)
- HOMELAND, Damer House Gallery, Roscrea,
- Drawing Conversations, Centre for Creative Practices, Dublin
- 2016 Caidre Arts Festival, The Model, Sligo
- Insider/Outsider, Caidre Arts Festival, The Model, Sligo
- Lines of Negotiation: Mapping the Land, Municipal Gallery, dlr Lexicon, Dublin
- Enniskillen Visual Visual Arts Open (NL)
- Drawn Conversations, Coventry University, (UK) Leitrim Sculpture Centre Open Art exhibition, Leitrim
- 2014 My last begging, Ha!! Ha!! the piano has been drinking, Maitland Regional Gallery, (AUS)
- 2013. Residency. Impressability: six-month residency, RYSS, (AUS)
- 2013 Marian Thread, The Institute of Global Irish Studies, University of NSW, (AUS)
- 2012. Opening the Box,4 Point Gallery, Newcastle (AUS)
- 2011 Not just Ned: the true history of Australia, National Museum of Australia
- 2010. Gosford Regional Gallery Open Call (AUS)
