Siobhán McDonald is an artist in residence in the School of Natural Sciences at Trinity College Dublin (2017-2019) working with world-leading research facilities such as The European Space Agency (ESA); The JRC European Commission and The European Research Council to explore ecology in light of current ecological concerns. Across these research labs, she pursues knowledge to ask questions about the structure and history of the earth. Her art practice calls on notions of what is still unknown to science, exploring the Anthropocene and the recent consequences of our treatment of nature. She is interested in the changeable nature of landmass, historical events and their interconnection to time. In her studio, she works with a diverse group including historians and scientists. Her works manifest in many forms including painting, drawing, film and sound.
Siobhan McDonald holds a Masters in Visual Arts Practices from IADT. In 2018 she received the Trinity Creative Challenge Award from Trinity College Dublin. In 2017 she received a Bursary from The Arts Council of Ireland and was the recipient of a Creative Ireland Award and a Culture Ireland, GB18 2018 award.
Recent and upcoming shows include Hidden Monuments, Limerick City Art Gallery, 2019; The Dutchese Museum, Dresden Shine-on-me; When plants remember; The National Trust-Fox Talbot Museum, UK, 2018; Disappearing Worlds, Taylor Galleries 2018; Crystalline, Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris, 2017; A Change in the Signal, Highlanes, Ireland, 2017; Core, The Historic Seismic Museum, Germany,2013; Seism, The Dock Carrick-on-Shannon, 2012; Eye of the Storm, The Galway Arts Centre, 2012; Rhythm, The Drawing Project, IADT, 2012; Moon; Messenger, Vangard Gallery, Cork, 2007; The Royal Hibernian Gallery, Dublin, 2000.
McDonald is represented in many collections, both public and private, in Ireland and America such as Allied Irish Banks, Bank of Ireland, The Ulster Museum and University College Dublin. Her projects are supported by The Institute of Physics, Culture Ireland, The Arts Council and The European Research Council.
2011 MAin Visual Arts Practice,Dun Laoghaire, Institute of Art and Design, Dublin
1995 BA (Honours) Degree in Art and Design University of Ulster at Belfast
Solo Exhibitions
2019 Monuments for the Future, Limerick City Gallery, Ireland
2019 Future Breath, Science Gallery Dublin,
2019 North Star, European Space Agency, Netherlands
2018 When plants remember, The Henry Fox Talbot Museum, UK
2018 When plants remember, art.earth, UK
2018 Disappearing Worlds, Solo show. Taylor Galleries, Dublin
2017 Crystalline, Highlanes Gallery, Ireland
2017 Crystalline, Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris
2014 Aimsir, The O’Brien Centre for Science, University College, Dublin
2013 Core, The Historic Seismic Museum, Germany
2012 Seism, The Dock Carrick-on-Shannon, Ireland
2012 Eye of the Storm, The Galway Arts Centre
2012 Rhythm, The Drawing Project, IADT, Dublin, Ireland
2011 Silent Sound II, The Joinery, Dublin
2011 Silent Sound I, The Catherine Hammond Gallery, West Cork, Ireland
2008 Shroud, Clodagh Gallery, New York
Selected Awards
2017 The Trinity Creative Challenge Award, Trinity College Dublin
2017 Visual Arts Bursary, Arts Council Ireland
2017 Imagining Ireland in the UK, Ireland Culture
2017 Creative Ireland Award, The Black Pig's Dyke
2016 The European Research Council
2016 Travel and Training Award, Arts Council Ireland
2016 Awarded 4 week residency at Centre Cultural Irelandaise, Summer 2017
2015 Awarded BAI Sound and Vision, RTE Lyric FM funded by Broadcasting, Authority of Ireland
2015 Awarded Public Art Commission, The School of Environmental Science, UCD
2015 Institute of Physics, Dublin
2015 Culture Ireland Award 2015, Exhibition at Connect Festival, Oslo
2015 Travel and Training Award, Arts Council Ireland
2014 Travel and Training Award, Arts Council Ireland
2014 Short Listed for the Golden Fleece Award
2013 Dublin City Council: The Tyrone Guthrie Award
2013 Short-listed for a Project Award, Arts Council of Ireland
2013 Awarded The O’Brien Centre for Science, Public Art Commission
2013 Awarded Associate AIR Residency, University College Dublin
2012 Bursary Award, Arts Council of Ireland
2012 UCD Science Artist in Residence Award
Selected Group Exhibitions
2019 Votla,Basel 2019
2019 Les Beaux Arts, Brussels: European Commission
2019 Of Plants and People, Deutsches Hygiene-Museum, Germany
2018 Shiine on Me The Sun and Us, Deutsches Hygiene-Museum, Germany
2016 Imago Mundi Project, Luciano Benetton exhibited Internationally. Curated:
Sean Kissane.
2015 Deep Songs, Connect Festival, in collaboration with Susan Stinger, Oslo
2015 Continuum, Live Performance,The Lab Gallery
2015 Welcome Disturbances, The Lab Gallery, Dublin
2014 Elemental, Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris
2014 The Annual RHA exhibition, Invited Artist
2014 The Boyle Arts Festival, Invited Artist
2013 Taylor Galleries 'Winter Group show'
2013 Taylor Galleries, VUE National Contemporary Art Fair at the RHA
2013 The Fenderensky Gallery, Belfast, "Les Fleures Du Mal" Invited Artist
2012 Taylor Gallery, Dublin winter show
Public Art Commissions
2018 The European Commission, Ispra
2017 Creative Ireland: The Black Pig's Dyke.
2016 Bank of Ireland, New York
2016 The School of Biology and Environmental science, University College Dublin
2014 The O’Brien Centre for Science, University College Dublin
Collections
Allied Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland, University College Dublin, University of Ulster, Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Four Seasons Hotel Group, PwC, The Office of Public Works, An Bord Gáis