Artist in Residence

UCD Parity Studios encourages creative relationships between artists, academics and researchers and enables new perspectives on current and prospective research to arise through the lens of artistic practice. It is an artist led model of interdisciplinarity at university and a practice-based programme that supports the development of new art works through an exchange of knowledge between the artist and UCD academics, researchers and students.

The UCD Parity Studios/iCRAG Artist in Residence 2020 is facilitating the artist Martina O'Brien to work with iCRAG researchers across STEAM projects as part of the Parity Artist in Residence programme and the iCRAG Earth Science in the Arts Programme.

Martina O’Brien is a visual artist based in Co. Kildare and recent member of TBG+S (2019/20). Recent commissions and residencies include Science Gallery Dublin Rapid Residency (2020); Project commission & residency, European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, ITL (2019); Artist in Residence, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, UK (2019) & Artist in Residence, Monitoring Changes in Submarine Canyon Coral Habitats Research Expedition, N. E. Atlantic, through UCD Parity Studios in partnership with iCRAG (2019). Recent solo exhibitions include Quotidian, Illuminations, NUI Maynooth (2019/20) and At Some Distance in the Direction Indicated, Butler Gallery (2018). Recent group exhibitions include New Era, Solstice Arts Centre (2020); Datami, BOZAR, Brussels & JRC, ITL (2019) & Tactical Magic, TULCA (2019).

Martina's practice explores links between people, nature and technology, bound by an interest in perceptions of time, the earth sciences and practices of divination. Her projects are typically developed through conversations and engagement with communities of interest, including community-based organisations, citizen scientists, academics and members of the scientific community. Martina realises her ideas through various media including moving image, installation and drawing and mainly present my work in galleries in the form of exhibitions, at video screening events, and through giving public artist talks.