Rhona Byrne
Rhona Byrne is an Irish Dublin based artist who works across performative and social sculpture, making sculptural spaces, installations, relational objects, drawing, video and photography. Often responding to a site or context, her practise is connective, with a collaborative and cross - disciplinary approach. Her projects are an enquiry into the complex multi-dimensionality of physical and social space, embodiment and interaction, place and affect.
She graduated with a BFA Sculpture NCAD in 1994. Rhona has exhibited and has been commissioned extensively in Ireland and internationally and has been supported with numerous awards from the Arts Council of Ireland. Rhona has undertaken several artist residencies internationally. Rhona work is in the collection of The Irish Museum of Modern Art, The Arts Council of Ireland, Fingal County Council, Facebook, Microsoft, Beaumont hospital, NUI Maynooth, The Rollercoaster society America and private collections. Rhona is currently a part time lecturer in LSAD Sculpture and Combined Media.
Selected Commissions
2023 Liffey Love Dublin City Public Art Program, Dublin City Council
2023 Lanestown View, Donabate, Percent for Art Commission Fingal County Council
2018 - ongoing Downside Up . Percent for Art Commission The National Childrens Hospital Dublin.
2021 The Shake, in collaboration with Choreographers Laura Murphy and Siobhan N Dhuinnin. Shake wear and set design supported by The Arts Council of Ireland Project Award.
2020/21 Weather Play in collaboration with Michelle Browne, Hope it Rains curated by Rionach Ni Neill Galway 2020
2016/19 The Scribble, A permanent Public Art Commission for the new Education Hub, Maynooth University.
2017/18 The Central Field, Live Land artwork, in collaboration with artist Yvonne Mc Guinness. commissioned by South Dublin County Council as part of In Context 4 curated by Aoife Tunney and Claire Power.
2017 Summer in the Square John Hansard Gallery, Southhampton curated by Woodrow Kernohan
2017/18 Huddlehood and interactive installation installed in a public space Guildhall Square for 7 weeks.
2017 A Playful City, installation of site specific treehouses for the conference held in Point Village.
2016 Mobile Monuments commissioned by Fingal County Council , 1916 Public Art Commission in collaboration with artist Yvonne Mc Guinness.
2015 Huddlewear and Huddlehood, Facebook HQ AIR program, commission and residency program.
2014 And on that Note A large scale event of performance and Sculpture, Heart of Glass, St Helens Rugby stadium, Liverpool.
2012-13 Bolthole, an interactive sculpture and installation.
Tate Modern, Turbine Hall, Tate Britain, UK, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and Big House Festival 2013 / The Performance Corporation curated by Katy Fitzpatrick and Susan Sheddan.
2013/14 Cowper Care dementia care unit, Dublin. An architectural intervention and wearable works series using smart textiles.
2008/11 Balcony Project, Senior citizens housing complex. An Audio box produced and available in mobile libraries in Dublin City, Commissioned by Dublin City Council.
2009 Architectures of Control, a site specific kinetic sculpture. Radar, Loughborough University, UK, curated by Nick Slater.
2008 The Glen Park project, In Context sculpture commission, creating temporary flexible ‘rooms’ in Glen Park. Cork City Council, Cork,
2007 Artist on the design team with the Office of Public Works and Heneghan Peng Architects collaborating on the concept and planning for the redevelopment of the city central site of Mountjoy prison, Dublin.
2004 Home Rhona Byrne and Ballymun Pigeon Club. A socially engaged project, exhibition, film and publication
2006 The Umbrella Project the LAB, Dublin, A walking tour event that explored and mapped the changing physical and social makeup of the North East inner City of Dublin, resulting in the production of umbrellas an exhibition and publication, commissioned by the Fire Station Artists Studios.
Selected exhibitions 2019
L’Atlas des Nuages. Fondation Francoisschneider, France curated by Marie Terrieux.
Please Touch: Tactile Encounters, curated by Chris Clarke and Fiona Kearney
Open studio exhibition at FAAP Sao Paulo. Residência Artística FAAP · São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Untertage Sao Paulo . Spatial intervention in the former Centro de Empreendedorismo / FAAP, São Paolo, Brazil, 2018in collaboration with Friedrich Engl and Ursula Gaisbauer.
2018
John Hansard Gallery, Southhampton curated by Woodrow Kernohan
(solo)
2017
The Play Project. VISUAL Carlow, curated by Emma Lucy O’Brien.
You and I, curated by Alissa Kleist Millennium Court Arts Centre
2016
A Decade, Irish Museum of Modern Art. An exhibition of works the the IMMA collection.
Embodied Encounters, Beall centre for Art and Technology, Irvine California, USA curated by David Familian and Simon Penny In Conjunction with “Body of Knowledge”Conference UC Irvine.
A Fair Land, Grizedale Arts at Irish Museum of Modern Art. 2015 Temple Bar Gallery and Studios Solo exhibition, Huddle Tests and a School for revolutionary girls a project by Suzanne Lacy. IMMA.
Visual Centre for Contemporary Art Carlow, Bolthole, curated by Emma Lucy O'Brien.
2015
Temple Bar Gallery and Studios Huddle Tests. ( Solo)
Tulca Festival of Visual Art Galway, Seachange, curated by Mary Cremin.
Fourth Space West Cork Centre A coloured threshold, curated by Ann Davoren.
2014
National Gallery of Ireland, A Moving Threshold. Performative sculpture, curated by Vaari Claffey and Donal Maguire.
Ridge and worn mountain, Phishing the Landscape Verksmijan, Hjalteyri in Iceland curated by Catriona Shaw and Clementine Roy.
2013
Norfolk and Norwich Arts Festival, Norwich, Uk, curated by Stephen Brandes. (solo)
Irish Museum of Modern Art, In the Line of Beauty, curated by Rachel Thomas.
Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin Action All areas, curated by Katy Fitzpatrick.
St Andrew's Community Centre, The producers, Rialto, Dublin, curated by Vaari Claffey.
The Lab, ‘A Physical Place’, Exiles, Dublin, curated by Alison Pilkington.
2012
Tate Modern, Turbine Hall, UK, ‘Bolt-Hole’, curated by Susan Sheddan.
Tate Britain, ‘Bolt-Hole’, UK, curated by Katy Fitzpatrick.
Cartel Gallery, ‘Last day.’, London, UK, curated by Paul O'Neill.
Gracelands at EVA, ‘Circling the Square’, Limerick, IE, curated by Vaari Claffey.
White Box, New York, ‘All Humans Do’, curated by Aoife Tunney and Chris Fite Wassilak.
The Model, Sligo, ‘All Humans Do’, curated by Aoife Tunney and Chris Fite Wassilak.
2011
Iteration: Again, Hobart, Tasmania. AU, ‘Our Day Will Come’ by Paul O’Neill and curated by Fiona Lee in, curated by David Cross.
Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris FR, ‘De l'émergence du Phénix,’ curated by Caroline Hancock
Tampere Art Museum, Finland, FI, ‘Body and Movement’, curated by Laura Koonika and Virpi Nikkari
2010
The Mattress Factory Museum, Pittsburgh, US, ‘Nothing is impossible’, curated by Mark Garry and Georgina Jackson.
Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, IE ‘Futures 10’, curated by RuthCarroll and Patrick Murphy.
Sinop Biennial, Turkey, Temporarily shelved, Curated by Vaari Claffey and Rana Öztürk. Gracelands, Dromahair, IE, Folly, curated by Vaari Claffey.
Tulca Galway Arts Festival, Galway IE ‘Living on the Edge’, curated by Michelle Browne.
Tulca Galway Arts Festival, Galway IE ‘Living on the Edge’, curated by Michelle Browne.
2009
Connaught House, Dublin, IE, ‘Work In Space’, curated by Aoife Tunney.
Gracelands, Dromahair, IE,’ Mimetic’, curated by Vaari Claffey.
2008
Four Gallery at the Kerlin Gallery, Dublin, IE, (Solo) ‘It’s a Roller Coaster’, curated by Lee Welsh.
Artists Residencies
2020/21 UCD Parity Studios Artists Residency 1 year
2020 Cow House Studios Wexford Ireland 1 wk
2019 Gowanus Canal Projects, Brooklyn New York,
4 wks.
2018 FAAP Residência Artística FAAP / MAB Centro Sao Paulo Brazil. 3 mths.
2016 The little house gallery and residency, Venice Beach LA 1 mth
2016 Irish Museum of Modern Art . A Fair Land Grizedale Arts.
1 mth
2015 Facebook HQ Dublin 3 months
2014 Resort Residency. Case Study 1, Portrane, Fingal County Council.
2 weeks
2014 Artists Stays. Mobile Art School at St Catherine’s primary.
2011 Gertrude Contemporary, Melbourne, Australia. 2mths.
2010 The Mattress Factory Museum, Pittsburgh, USA. 2mths.
2009/12 A Membership Studio at Temple Bar Gallery and Studios, Dublin. 3yrs.
2008 The Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin. 6mths.
2008 Ardbia, Berlin, Germany. 3 wks.
2006 Pepinieres map XXL, Art4EU, Haus der Architektur, Graz, Austria. 3mths.
2005-06 The Fire Station’s Artists Studios ‘Artists in the Community Studio Award’ 1 yr.
2002-05 Residential studio in the Fire Station Artists Studios. Dublin. 3yrs
2009/12 Membership Studio at Temple Bar Gallery and Studios, Dublin. 3yrs.
2008 The Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin. 6mths.
2008 Ardbia, Berlin, Germany. 3 weeks.
2006 Pepinieres map XXL, Art4EU, Haus der Architektur, Graz, Austria. 3mths.
2005-06 The FireStation’s ArtistsStudios‘Artists in the Community Studio Award’ 1yr
2002-05 Residential studio in the FireStation Artists Studios. Dublin. 3yrs
Awards
2016, 2020 Fingal County Council Artists Bursary Award
2008, 2011, 2013, 2016 Arts Council of Ireland, IE, Visual Arts Bursary
2005, 2011,2012, 2014, 2018Arts Council of Ireland, IE, Travel and Mobility Award
2008, 2013 Arts Council of Ireland, IE, Project New Work Award.
2003 Artist in the Community Scheme Award. The Irish Arts Council administered by CREATE
Education/research
1990- 1994 BFA hons Fine Art Sculpture, National College of Art and Design, Dublin.
2008- 10 Research with Environmental psychologist David Canter, University of Huddersfield UK.
2008Mobility and the City. Associate researcher, Graduate School of Creative Arts and Media, Dublin.
2014Meridian Program, Common purpose, Leadership Program.
2013Interior design for Dementia Care, Sterling University, Scotland.
1997 + 99 City and Guilds, Auto CAD (computer aided design) 2D and 3D, Griffith College Dublin
1997 FAS. City and Guilds.
Teaching third level
2019 Part time lecturer in the BA Sculpture and Combined Media, Limerick School of Art and Design.
2018 Visiting artist to FAAP University School of Art, Sao Paulo, BA in Fine Art.
2017 Visiting Artist at Otis University MA in Art and Social Practise, California.
2017 Visiting Artist to Beall Centre for Art and Technology, Irvine CA.
2016, 17, 18 and 19 Visiting lecturer and studio tutor to the MA in Social Practice and the Creative Environment, Limerick School of Art.
2017 A 3 day cross disciplinary workshop 'Public' on site specific Public Art, The Quarter Block Party. Cork
2015 Visiting Artist on the BFA Sculpture dept NCAD.
2014 Visiting artist IADT Visual Arts Practices MA program.
2012 Visiting artist at NCAD/UCD Art in the Contemporary World MA project.
2009 Sligo College of Art visiting artist to BA students and tutorials.
2003 – 2010 Griffith College Dublin BA in Design (Interior architecture) Lecturer and project studio tutor in the on the first year Bachelor of Arts in Design in Interior Architecture.
2005- 2010 Griffith College Dublin BA in Design (Interior architecture). Responsible for the delivery, scheduling and coordination of the First Year Part time evening program. I would liaise with student and lecturers during the year and report back to the director.
2009 & 10 Visiting artist presenting week long workshops with BA students UCD School of Architecture.
2014 Artists Mentor for Hazel Dixon as part of her award for the Artists in the community scheme, Create and the Arts Council of Ireland when she completed college.
Workshops
2020 Make Create Innovate combining Art and technology
2019 Green-Schools Travel, Environmental Education Unit An Taisce, Humans on wheels , 2 mth residency in Springdale Primary school, commissioned by artist Michelle Browne, for Velo City Dublin
2018 The Design and crafted Council fo Ireland. Crafted. at the Arc.
2018 Villa Prudente Cultural Centre, Sao Paulo, Brazil
2017 A thought experiment’ for Hughlane City Gallery curated by Katy Fitzpatrick
2012- 2018 , annual Visiting artist at Willow Park primary school, Arts week, Blackrock
2016 The Arc, Dublin,
2015/16 As part of a 1916 related public art commission delivered workshops in 4 primary schools and senior groups around Fingal County. https://mobilemonuments.wordpress.com/2016/03/15/welcome-to-mobile-monuments/https://vimeo.com/162675306
2015 New Park school, Designed and delivered a workshop around wearable artwork with 5th year students.
2014 Vestibule, Merrion Square
2013, 14 Irish Museum of Modern Art, IMMA Education dept.
2014-15 Artists workshops with Recreate, Dublin.
2014 Bealtaine Festival. Dublin City Council.
2015 Nimble Spaces, Visual Carlow.
2015 The Irish Architecture Foundation, all ages.
2016-18 Virtually There, Kids own working online with St Colmans primary School.2016 Blessington Community college 6 week residency with transition year students.
2016 ‘Virtually There’ Kids Own
2011/15 Art and Design Instructor, designing and delivering programs. The Centre for Talented Youth. Art and Design tutor, DCU, Dublin City University 6- 17 year old students.
2013 Mobile Art School, Artists Stays. St Catherine’s primary school, Rush for 30 weeks curated by Jennie Guy and Cleo Fagan.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIS0zA_QGs8
2012 NGBK, Berlin, DE, Kombiticket's 'Channel Tunnel', curated by Catriona Shaw.
2010 Workshop. Education dept. The Mattress Factory Museum Pittsburgh USA.
Published articles and contributions2016 VAI How its Made.
2011 Zine contribution for Our Day Will Come a project by PaulO'Neill.
2009 Artist in the Community Scheme: Four Essays, published by CREATE.
2009 Permaculture, Project Press, Project Arts Centre.
2005 Home Rhona Byrne and Ballymun pigeon club, Contexts Magazine arts and practice in Ireland. The Regeneration issue.
2005 Theo Sims and Rhona Byrne by Mark Garry, Backflash Magazine ,Canada.
2006 ‘How its made’ VAN Visual Artists Ireland 2006.
2005&06 Feint, zine contribution by VaariClaffey 2005and2006.
2005/06 Artists experiences MapxxL Pepinieres
Heart of Glass Publication. Going out of Our way an essay by curator VaariClaffey
Sarah Baume on Huddle tests commissioned by Temple Bar Gallery and Studios
Red Stables Summer school, Interpretive project.
Balcony Project, Audio book/ box, in mobile libraries in Dublin.
The Umbrella project publication awarded a silver ICAD award; designed and published by Atelier David Smith.
Relevant work experience
2018 Exhibition designer for the Science Gallery Trinity College Dublin. Intimacy.
2013 Founding director of artists studios ‘Station’, Harcourt St Old Police Station Dublin 2, Ireland.
2014 Producer for Artists residency program, Resort Case Study, Fingal County Council Arts Office.
2013 Producer for Commissions + Conference, Fingal County Council Arts Office.
2014 Producer for What Next? Conference, Fingal County Council Arts Office.
1994 – 2000 Interior design, project manager for domestic and commercial projects and autoCAD technician.