About / Clare Lyons

Clare Lyons

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Clare Lyons (b.1993) is an artist and photographer working between Belfast and Dublin. Considering the photograph as an object is integral to Clare’s practice. Her work often employs methods borrowed from sculpture and printmaking to draw attention to this, blurring the lines of what photography is or can be. Clare’s practice has been largely autobiographical, focusing on deeply personal themes and stories of healing and catharsis in the face of trauma and mental illness. Recent works represent a transitory phase for Clare as her practice shifts and changes, no longer confined to being the subject of her own work.

Clare was one of five Irish Talents selected by PhotoIreland for the FUTURES European Photography Platform in 2021, and in 2022 represented Ireland at 'Visage(s) d'Europe' curated by Collectif Fetart in Paris. Clare presented her debut solo exhibition 'To Jack' at The Limerick Museum in October 2024.


Education
2021 - MFA Photography, Ulster University
2016 - BA Hons Photography, Institute of Art, Design & Technology (IADT)

Selected Exhibitions
2024 -
To Jack, The Limerick Museum, Limerick

2023 -
to lean, fold, buckle, hold, carry, push, pull, support, Catalyst Arts, Belfast
p(a/u)ddle, Catalyst Arts, Belfast
Visage(s) d'Europe, Médiathèque Cœur De Ville, Vincennes

2022 -
In Our Own Image: The Rise, D-Light Studios, Dublin (in collaboration with Photo Museum Ireland)
Royale Arcade Academy, Arcade Studios, Belfast
On the Irish Photobook, Museum of Contemporary Photography of Ireland, Dublin
Images Are All We Have, Museum of Contemporary Photography of Ireland, Dublin
Visage(s) d’Europe, Quai des Célestins, Paris

2021 -
FUTURES Irish Talent Showcase, The Library Project, Dublin,
A Lightness of Touch, Belfast Exposed Photography Gallery, Belfast

2020 -
100 Views of Contemporary Ireland, The Library Project, Dublin
Life in Still Life, OPW Touring Exhibition, Tyrone, Down, Dublin & Galway

2019 -
In The Making: Ormond Art Studios 10 Year Anniversary Exhibition, Dublin
The Invention Of Memory, Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin (as part of PhotoIreland Festival Main Programme)
Third-Thursday, Arts, Letters and Numbers, New York
#tootiredcanton, Too Tired Project, St. Lawrence University, New York

Awards and Residencies
2023 - Support for Individual Artists Programme (SIAP), Arts Council of Northern Ireland
2022 - Agility Award Round 1, Arts Council Of Ireland
2021 - Highly Commended, Photograd Graduate Selection
2021 - Selected Artist, The Pupil Sphere Graduate Showcase
2021 - Selected Irish Talent, FUTURES Photography Platform
2019 - Universities Ireland North/South Postgraduate Scholarship
2019 - Winner, #FotoRoomOPEN, Espace Jörg Brockmann Edition
2019 - Residency at Arts, Letters and Numbers, New York
2019 - Travel and Training Award, Arts Council of Ireland

Professional Experience
2024 - Invited Tutor, MA Photography, Bath Spa University
2023 - Tutor, Foundation Photography, Belfast School of Art
2021 - Guest Lecturer, Journalism with Photography, Ballyfermot College
2019-2020 - Marketing and PR Officer, Ormond Art Studios
2019 - Volunteer, Museum of Contemporary Photography of Ireland
2018 - Gallery Assistant, Pallas Projects + Studios Dublin
2018 - Volunteer/Intern, The Library Project Dublin
2017-2019 Assistant Editor, Junior Magazine

Artist Talks
2023 - In Conversation w/ Silvia Koistinen, Healing Through Photography Conference, Catalyst Arts
2019 - The Invention of Memory Artist Talk w/ Julia Gelezova, Rathfarnham Castle

Collections
Belfast Exposed Archive
PhotoIreland Collection
Office of Public Works Ireland

Publications, Press, and Features
Tique Visual Art
Catalyst Arts
Irish Photo Network
PHROOM Platform
Centre Culturel Irlandais
Sola Journal: The Land From Which We Come
Tbilisi Photo Museum and Festival x Futures
The Pupil Sphere
Photograd
Réponses Photo
Futures Photography
Ireland Creates Podcast
Booooooom
Ormond Art Studios: Meet The Artist
Der Greif Guest Room
FotoRoom
The Irish Times
Junior Magazine
Guts Magazine
Headstuff.org
BLOW Magazine