About

Lucy McKenna's work is concerned with the observation and interpretation of data relating to our understanding of the universe. She looks at the systems that attempt to explain our place in it, who owns them and the perspectives that those systems include or exclude.

Through research and process, she explores different methods of data extraction, collection and use; including instinct, scientific experiment, technology, language, storytelling, folklore and mythology. Informed by this research, McKenna’s art practice becomes a tool of data capture and distillation itself, seeking to unfold the information hidden in those spaces where the analytic and intuitive concur.

Her practice pushes to diversify and democratise potential pathways of innovation and discovery related to the world around us, her works scaffolding a visual theory that proposes some knowledge about the universe can only be uncovered through intuitive methods. McKenna’s practice is a multidisciplinary one consisting of drawing, painting, photography, film, print, audio and sculptural works.

CV

Education:

  • Joint BA degree- NCAD, Thomas St, Dublin, 2000-2005

Selected Exhibitions // Projects:

2024

  • Way Bad & Friends, group exhibition, Hens Teeth, Dublin, Ireland. May

  • Hermione, group exhibition, Alexandra College, Dublin, Ireland. May

  • High Strangeness, solo exhibition, Cabra Library, Dublin, Ireland. Creative Hubs commission with Dublin City Council, IMMA & Dublin City Libraries. April

2023

  • The Cosmic Repeater video work screened on Solstice Arts Centre for Culture Night, Meath, Ireland. Sept

2022

  • A Dormant Light Resides In The Eye, solo exhibition, Solstice Arts Centre, Meath, Ireland. Aug

  • We Didn’t Move... video work screened on Living Canvas digital screen, Dublin, Ireland. July

  • In Perpetuity, permanent installation, Meta, Cork, Ireland. May

2021

  • Artifacts, group exhibition, Casa Hoffmann, Bogotá, Colombia. Oct

2020

  • Ollphéist, Ormston House, projected .GIF in city windows, Limerick, Ireland. Nov

  • Fly Me To The Moon, The Ark Cultural Centre for Children, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, Ireland. March

2019

  • Accumulus commissioned installation, IDA Ireland on their 70th anniversary, IDA Headquarters, Dublin 2, Ireland. Oct

  • Nubecula commissioned installation, Kilkenny Education Centre, Kilkenny, Ireland. Feb

  • Subliminal || Sublime, installation + performance, Moylurg Tower, Boyle, Roscommon, Ireland for Park Project IV. Jan

2018

  • Residency Commission with Roscommon Arts Centre, Lough Key Park, Roscommon, Ireland. Sept

  • Residency at Cill Rialaig, Kerry, Ireland. Sept

  • DCC artist-in-residence award, Albert Cottages, Hampstead Park, Dublin, Ireland. (1 year) March

  • Hermione, group exhibition, Alexandra College, Dublin 4, Ireland. March

2017

  • Residency at ISCP New York, Brooklyn, NY, USA. Sept - Dec

  • The Otherworld Hall, Solstice Arts Centre, Navan, Co. Meath, Ireland. Oct

  • Future Proof, The Lab, Dublin 1, Ireland. Sept

  • The Space Between, OPW touring exhibition, Clotworthy House, Antrim, Northern Ireland. Sept

  • In Perpetuity, commissioned installation, Facebook AIR Program, research + development site, undisclosed location. Aug

  • The Crystal World, commissioned installation, Paper Assist, Baldonnel, Dublln 22, Ireland. Aug

  • Galway International Arts Festival: The Golden Record, invited artist, Galway Arts Centre, Ireland. July

  • In Perpetuity, Atrium Space, Temple Bar Gallery + Studios, Dublin 2, Ireland. April

  • Astronomical Mashup, Cube Space, The Lab Gallery, Dublin 1, Ireland. Feb (solo)

2016

  • Winter Open, RUA RED, Dublin, Ireland, Nov

  • RISOdency, Facebook AIR Program, Dublin, Ireland, June

  • The Artist Observatory, Catalyst Arts + Armagh Space Observatory, Northern Ireland. Feb - April

  • Imago Mundi Project, international publication/ exhibition. Jan

2015

  • Periodical Review, Pallas Projects/ NCAD Gallery, Dublin, Ireland, Dec

  • Artist in residence, Facebook AIR Program, Dublin, Ireland, June - Oct

  • Recent Works, Process Space, VISUAL Carlow, Ireland, March (solo)

2014

  • Action at a Distance: the life and legacy of John Stewart Bell, Naughton Gallery, Queens University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Nov

  • The Lacuna In Parallax, Source Arts Centre, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, Ireland, Sept (solo)

  • Legacy, City Hall, Cork, Ireland, Jan

2013

  • DETONATE (SUPERSONIC EXOTHERMIC FRONT), Limerick Arts Encounter, 69 O'Connell St, Limerick, Ireland, Oct

  • Abhainn Rí Festival, Fennelly's, Callan, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland, July

  • The Darker Wood, Gallery West, Queen St, Toronto, Canada, July (solo)

  • Film Dinner 3/6, screening, curated by Etaoin Holohan at Fennellys, Callan, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland, April

  • Under The Rug, curated by Erica Harney, Iona College, New Rochelle, NY, USA, March

  • Bury Me Under The Juniper Tree, screening, King St. Alternative Film Festival, Toronto, Canada, Feb

  • Quantum Entanglement, Axis: Ballymun, Dublin, Ireland, Jan (solo)

2012

  • Signes De Nuit film festival, Paris, France, Oct

  • Freezer Film Retrospective, NES, Skagaströnd, Iceland, Aug

  • Electron Cloud, installation, St. Marys Lane, Kilkenny Arts Festival, Kilkenny, Ireland, Aug

  • Birr Arts Festival, Birr, Co. Offaly, Ireland, Aug

  • Convergence 3, With Space Gallery, 798 district, Beijing, China, March

  • Hidden Meanings Yan Chao Collection Gallery, Guomao, Beijing, China, March

  • The Darker Wood, Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, Ireland, Feb (solo)

  • Selected Works, Mountmellick Library & Gallery, Mountmellick, Co. Laois, Ireland, Jan (solo)

2011

  • The Darker Wood installation, Electric Picnic Festival, Stradbally, Co. Laois, Ireland, Sept

  • The Darker Wood installation, Kilkenny Castle park, Kilkenny Arts Festival, Ireland, Aug

  • The Darker Wood, Carnegie Arts Centre, Kenmare, Co. Kerry, Ireland, June (solo)

  • Upstart Campaign election posters, various locations in Dublin, Ireland, Feb

2010

  • Sanctioned Array, White Box Gallery, NYC, USA, Nov

  • Gathering Mill Street Art Studios, Dublin 8, Ireland, July

  • New Living Art, Irish Museum Of Contemporary Art, Dublin 2, Ireland, July

  • Movement Comma Movement, Toronto, Canada, June

  • Éigse Arts Festival, Carlow, Ireland, June

  • Vårstad Cultural Festival, Växjö, Sweden, May

  • Joint show with Fidelma Sheridan, Your Eyes They Turn Me, Inspire Galerie, Dublin 1, Ireland, April

Awards

  • 2024- Joseph M. Hassett Bursary Award for Visual Art, UCD College of Arts & Humanities, Ireland.

  • 2014- 1 year membership, The Good Hatchery, Ireland

  • 2013- Culture Ireland grant

  • 2013- Joint 1st place, Intertoto Competition, King St. Alternative Film Festival, Toronto, Canada

  • 2012- Irish Arts Council Project Award

  • 2011- Artlinks Bursary Award

  • 2010- Irish Arts Council Travel Bursary

  • 2008- Irish Arts Council Travel Bursary

Residencies

2023

  • Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Monaghan, Ireland. May

2018

  • Cil Rialaig, Kerry, Ireland. Sept.

  • DCC artist-in-residence, Albert Cottages, Hampstead Park, Dublin, Ireland. March 2018 - March 2019

2017

  • ISCP, New York, USA. Sept - Dec.

2016

  • The Artist Observatory, Catalyst Arts + Armagh Space Observatory, Northern Ireland. Feb - April

2015

  • Facebook Artist In Residence Program, Dublin HQ, Ireland. June - Oct.

2013

  • Fennelly's, Callan, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland. July.

2011

  • Kilkenny Arts Office, John St., Kilkenny, Ireland. October.

2010

  • Artscape Gibraltar Point, Toronto Island, Toronto, Canada. Oct & Nov.

2009

  • NES, Skagaströnd, Iceland. Feb & March.

2008

  • Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont, USA. Feb.

Collections

  • IDA, Ireland

  • OPW, Ireland

  • Accenture, London

  • Facebook, Ireland

  • Kilkenny Education Centre, Kilkenny, Ireland

  • Irish Defence Forces, Dublin, Ireland

  • St Lukes Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

  • ASTI, Dublin, Ireland

  • Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

  • Kilkenny Arts Office, Kilkenny, Ireland