Cara is a visual artist and printmaker.
She makes prints in Derry Print Workshop.
Working with the term ‘the archive’ in a flexible and contemporary sense, Cara’s current artwork focuses on the operative aspects of archiving - collecting, preserving, and mediating images, drawings, and objects. Photography and printmaking are a grounding point of both ‘the archive’ and Cara’s practice. She is interested in the emotional resonance of place, drawing on her own and other’s experience in an attempt to articulate non-specific memory and history.
Photo credit: Róisín McGannon
C.V
Experience
2023 - Present
VOID Contemporary Art Gallery - Life Drawing Facilitator - Derry
Artlink Fort Dunree - Printmaking Facilitator - Buncrana
Derry Print Workshop - Workshop facilitator - Derry
April 2018 - March 2019
Black Church Print Studio - Board of Directors - Dublin
November 2017 - June 2018
Art Book Club Dublin - Founder and Co-Director with Myrid Carten
Art Book Club Dublin was a self-organised alternative educational structure. This peer-lead open group encouraged active participation from art makers, thinkers and viewers.
We initiated a series of monthly meetings to support a dialogue between practice and theory, artists and their peers, hosted in Temple Bar Gallery + Studios ‘Studio 6’ as part of their Studio 6 Open Programme.
Education
2014 - 2017 National College of Art & Design, Dublin - BA (Hons) Fine Art Printmaking & Visual Culture First Class Joint Honours (H.1) with a commendation in Visual Culture
2011 - 2012 North West Regional College, Derry - BTEC Diploma Foundation Studies in Art & Design Achieved with Distinction
Selected Exhibitions
2023 Original Prints Derry Print Workshop exhibition, U.V Arts Gallery, Derry
What We Can Do Artlink Member’s Exhibition curated by Lindsay Merlihan, Artlink Fort Dunree
Spring Open, Rua Red, Dublin
2022 Swallowing Geography, Regional Cultural Centre and Glebe House and Gallery, Donegal
2019 The New State: Contemporary Etching in Ireland Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin
CQ Studio Clancy Quay, Islandbridge, Dublin
2018 Homo Ludens (Man at Play), The Library Project/Black Church Print Studio, Dublin
VUE Art Fair, RHA, Dublin
A Setting, Pallas Projects/Studios, Dublin
2017 Winter Open, Rua Red, Dublin
CHOICE, The Playhouse, Derry
Art in Mini, Grousehall House, Donegal
NCAD Graduate Exhibition, NCAD, Dublin
2016 Store. Revisit, Solo Show, Yellow Box, NCAD
Dublin Art Book Fair, Temple Bar Gallery & Studios, Dublin
Tnirp, Artbox, Dublin
SPACE (s) ?, Yellow Box, NCAD
2014 First Year End of Year Show, NCAD, Dublin
No Jury No Prize, Fort Dunree, Donegal
2013 NWRC End of Year Show, NWRC, Derry
Awards
2023
Donegal County Council Artist Bursary
2022
Donegal County Council Artist Bursary
Arts Council of Ireland Agility Award
2018
Clancy Quay Studio Residency, awarded by NCAD and Kennedy Wilson
2017
Black Church Print Studio Graduate Award: John Kelly RHA (1932-2006) Award (First Prize)
Ormond Studios Graduate Award Runner-Up (Second Prize)
2013 NWRC Printmaking Student of the Year
Press & Speaking Engagements
2023 Derry Journal article, "Artist Cara Donaghey launches Súilí range of tote bags..."
Artist Talk, Donegal Visual Artists Network Get Together at Glebe House and Gallery
2018 Artist Talk and Open Studio, Clancy Quay Studios.
Live Collision Process Residency (in collaboration with Felicity Theatre): Creating & Presenting a visual response to Pseudaria at Fringe Lab
The best art exhibitions this week The Irish Times. Article by Aidan Dunne
2017 Ormond Studios Artist Talks, No. 4 Ormond Quay, November 2017
Bright Futures: The Graduates Above the Fold. Interviewed by Róisín McGannon
The next generation of artists: the 2017 graduate show The Irish Times. Article by Aidan Dunne
2016 Instagram Pick of the Week Headstuff. Interviewed by Eva Griffin