bio / statement / cv
Caoimhín* Gaffney is an artist working with film, photography and writing, whose work has been shown in exhibitions and film festivals internationally. Gaffney graduated from the Royal College of Art’s MA Photography and Moving Image in 2011 and received their PhD from Ulster University’s School of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences in 2022. In 2014, they were an UNESCO-Aschberg laureate artist-in-residence at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s Changdong residency in South Korea.
Solo exhibitions include the Crawford Art Gallery, Block 336 in London, Contemporary Art Institute (CAI02) in Sapporo, and a national touring exhibition of new work in Ireland from the Butler Gallery to the Highlanes and Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre. Their films have screened at FACT, Cork Film Festival, Korean Queer Film Festival, the European Media Arts Festival and the London Short Film Festival (receiving the Little White Lies award).
In 2017, Unseen By My Open Eyes, a solo publication featuring four film scripts and their corresponding translations in Irish, Persian, Korean and Mandarin was published by Black Dog London. In 2025, the Butler Gallery published the second monograph of their work, featuring photographs, film stills and text pieces. Their work is featured in the collections of the Irish Museum of Modern Art, the Arts Council and the Crawford Art Gallery.
*Caoimhín is pronounced like “kwee-veen”.
My image-making practice involves filmmaking and analogue photography, and my writing practice is used to create scripts for my films, text pieces and fictional stories. My work uses inward-looking meditations with surreal scenes and images to envision alternative ways of being and worlds with their own logic and possibilities. The texts I write are often without traditional narratives or character arcs, aiming to create an unsettled terrain that reflects the unsettled and uncomfortable emotions and sensations they discuss.
Often the films’ characters’ roles –or way of performing– change from scene to scene, creating an ambiguity that reflects on the shifting nature of identity and which draws attention to the constructed nature of cinema itself. Archival footage is intercut to disrupt the films’ representation of time and space, and to create both connections and friction between recent history and fictional visions of the future.
Education
- PhD, Vice-Chancellors Research Scholarship: Resisting Homonormativity in Queer Filmmaking Practice, Cinematic Arts, School of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, Ulster University. 2018- 2022
- MA Photography & Moving Image (with distinction), Royal College of Art, London. 2009- 2011
- BA Fine Art (First Class Hons.), Technological University Dublin. 2004 – 2008
Solo exhibitions & Screenings
- Butler Gallery national tour to Highlanes Municipal Gallery & Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre. 2024-25
- Solo screening: Art Link at Buncrana Cinema, Donegal. 2023
- Crawford Art Gallery, Ireland. 2020/21
- Solo screening: Irish Museum of Modern Art. 2020
- Outburst Queer Arts Festival, Ulster University Gallery, Northern Ireland. 2019
- CAI02 Contemporary Art Institute, Sapporo, Japan. 2018
- Solo screening: FACT, Liverpool. 2018
- Ormston House, EVA, Ireland. 2018
- Block 336, curated by Kathleen Soriano, London. 2017
- Millenium Court Arts Centre, Northern Ireland. 2017
- The Linenhall Arts Centre, Ireland. 2016
- CAI02 Contemporary Art Institute, Sapporo International Art Festival, Japan. 2014
- Galway Arts Centre, Ireland. 2013
- RUA RED, South Dublin Arts Centre, Ireland. 2011
- 126, Galway, Ireland. 2008
Residencies
- Redbarn Residency, Youghal. 2025
- Kunstverein Aughrim, Cow House Studios. 2024
- Art Link, Irish Artist in Residence, Fort Dunree, Donegal. 2023
- Marino Institute of Education, Artist in Residence funded by the Arts Council. 2017- 2018
- Fire Station Artist Studios. Dublin. 2017- 2018
- Cow House Studios, Bealtaine Festival. 2017
- RHA Studio Artist, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin. 2016
- Kooshk Artist Residency Award. Tehran, Iran. 2015
- UNESCO-Aschberg Laureate Artist-in-Residence, MMCA Changdong, National Museum of Modern & Contemporary Art, Seoul. 2014
- Taipei Artist in Residence, Taipei Artist Village, Taipei Culture Foundation. Taiwan. 2014
- Started Residency, Startpoint Prize for Emerging Artists, Arbor Vitae Foundation. Prague. 2012
Authored Publications, Stories and Broadcasts
- All at Once Collapsing Together, monograph published by the Butler Gallery, featuring essays by Anna O’Sullivan and Pádraic E.Moore. 2025
- A nest on the ground, new short story presented at Exploring Climate Justice & the Arts symposium, DCU. 2024
- It all began with the turlough, short story shortlisted for the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition, published on RTÉ and broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1. 2023
- Unseen by my Open Eyes, monograph published by Black Dog London, featuring essay by Caoimhín MacGiolla Leith. UK, Europe, Asia & North America. 2017
- The Unnameable, self-published hardback of photographs, text and film stills. 2012
Selected Reviews, Essays & Press
- Intriguing multi-media exhibition studies conflicted relationship between humans and the environment
- Review of Uillinn exhibition by Craig Cox, West Cork People. 2025
- A visual rhapsody by an outstanding Irish artist, review of Butler Gallery, by Tom Lordan, Irish Times. 2024
- Summoning a queer state, essay by Karl Schoonover, Professor of Film & Television Studies, Warwick University. Published by the Crawford. 2020
- Review of Expulsion at the Crawford in Art Monthly by Chris Hayes, October issue 440. 2020
- Play Like a Coyote, essay by Alissa Kleist, in Curriculum edited by Jennie Guy, published by Intellect. 2020
- Review of Everything Disappears at IMMA by Chris Hayes, Circa art magazine. 2020
- Review of A Numbness in the Mouth at Linenhall, Irish Times. 2016
- Sky Arts UK & Ireland broadcast: 10min documentary & interview with Melvyn Bragg. 2016
- Feature on my practice in the Irish Times. 2015
- Review of BA graduate show by Sara Baume, Circa art magazine, Issue 205. 2008
Awards, Funding & Commissions
- Film Project Award, Arts Council of Ireland. 2025, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2012
- Arts Grant Award, Dublin City Council. 2025, 2018
- Visual Art Bursary Award, Arts Council of Ireland. 2024, 2023, 2011
- Visual Art Project Award, Arts Council of Ireland. 2023
- Film Bursary Award, Arts Council of Ireland. 2022, 2017
- Platform 31, Local Authority Arts Office. 2022
- Culture Ireland grants for: Block 336 & CAI02 exhibitions, and FACT screening. 2018, 2017
- Sky Arts Scholarship. UK & Ireland. 2015
- Sorachi Coal Mine,Sapporo International Art Festival, commissioned video installation, Japan.2014
- Little White Lies Award from 9th London Short Film Festival. 2012
- Artist’s International Development Fund, Arts Council of England & British Council. 2012
- Grand Prix from the Sapporo Biennale International Competition. Japan. 2011
- Honorary Mention from Startpoint Prize for Emerging Artists. Czech Republic. 2011
- E’3 Film Award, European League of Institute of the Arts. 2008
Academia
- Lecturer at BA & MA Photography with Video, Belfast School of Art, Ulster University. 2021-2023
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), UK.
- Post-Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice (PgCHEP), Higher Education Academy, Ulster Uni. 2022
- Co-authored peer-reviewed journal paper: Screen Production Research: Queer Short Filmmaking as a Mode of Enquiry, Short Film Studies: Issue 11.2. 2021
- Lecturer, BSc (Hons) Cinematic Arts, Ulster University, Derry. 2019.
- Guest lectures at BA Photography & Documentary, London College of Communication (2021), Trinity College Dublin (2017), Ulster University (2017 & 2015), TUD (2017, 2013), Kyung Hee University Seoul (2014).
- Conference papers presented at Irish Screen Studies Seminar (Ulster University, 2021); Outing the Past: LGBTQ+ History (Salford University, 2021), and Outing the Past (Ulster University, 2019).
Public Engagement
- In-conversation with Anna O’Sullivan, at Uillinn. 2025
- VAI Get Together: on climate crisis, social justice & creativity, TUD. 2025
- AEMI Rough Cuts: lead responder, Temple Bar Gallery + Studios. 2025
- In-conversation with Pádraic E. Moore, at Butler Gallery. 2024
- In-conversation with Sara Greavu, at IMMA. 2020
- In-conversation with Kathleen Soriano: Crawford Art Gallery (2020), Ormston House (2018) & Block 336 (2017)
- Aarhus Art Weekend: on sex & vulnerability in film at Kvindemuseet (Women’s Museum), Denmark. 2019
- Bealtaine Festival: with Vivienne Dick, Kathy Pendergast & Linda Shevlin, Wexford Arts Centre. 2017
- VAI & Fingal Arts Office: Public Art, from Ambition to Realisation, Malahide Castle. 2017
- Wexford Arts Centre: Art in Schools – Models of Engagement seminar. 2017
- Artist talks at the RHA (2018), the Hugh Lane (2017) and Rybon Art Centre Tehran. 2015
- Workshops at GOMA (2025), Highlanes Gallery (2024), Marino Institute of Education (2018).
Group Exhibitions
- GOMA, Waterford, exhibition with Bassam Issa Al-Sabah and Jennifer Mehigan. July 2025
- Milk and nectar, Uphold at Belfast Photo Festival. 2023
- Curdle, Courthouse Gallery, Clare, exhibition with Bassam Issa Al-Sabah and Jennifer Mehigan. 2022
- ‘Video Works’ & ‘On the Irish Photobook’ at PhotoIreland, Museum of Contemporary Photography. 2022
- Guides, curated by Séamus Nolan from the Arts Council Collection, Linenhall Arts Centre. 2022
- Narrow Gate of the Here and Now, collections exhibition at IMMA. 2021-2022
- I Never Promised you a Dystopia, curated by Aoife Banks, Kilkenny Arts Office. 2021
- I Am What I Am, curated by Sinéad Keogh, Ballina Arts Centre, Ireland. 2021
- Haerfest, CCA Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland. 2019
- Disruptors, Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda. 2019
- FUTURES, RHA, Ireland. 2017
- Art Works, VISUAL, curated by Eoin Dara & Emma-Lucy O’Brien, Carlow. 2017
- Art Street, public exhibition in Sapporo-Odori subway stations, Sapporo, Japan. 2016
- Art Works VISUAL, selected by Annie Fletcher, Carlow. 2016
- Out There Thataway, CCA Derry-Londonderry. 2015
- Kooshk Artist Residency Award, Open Studio Exhibition, Mohsen Gallery, Tehran, Iran. 2015
- Art Works VISUAL, selected by Lewis Biggs, Carlow. 2015
- Homeland, Damer House Gallery in association with Loop Barcelona, Ireland. 2015
- Other Forms of Relations, MMCA Residency, National Museum of Modern & Contemporary Art, Korea. 2014
- Fake Hikers, MMCA Residency, National Museum of Modern & Contemporary Art, Korea. 2014
- Sorachi Coal Mine exhibition, Sapporo International Art Festival, Japan. 2014
- We, Catalyst Arts, Belfast. 2012
- Periodical Review # 2, Pallas Projects, Dublin. Selected by Padraic E. Moore. 2012
- Started 2012: Residents of Startpoint, Galerie NTK, National Technical Library, Prague. 2012
- The Last to Say, Museum Gavu Cheb, Czech Republic. 2012
- Startpoint Prize for Emerging Artists, Wannieck Gallery, Brno, Czech Republic. 2011
- 9 Days the Museum Disappears, Sapporo Pre-Biennale, Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art. 2011
- Album, curated by Morgan Quaintance, Liverpool Biennale Independents. 2010
Film Festivals & Screenings
- Ormston House late night cinema screening at the Belltable, Limerick. 2024
- ‘To be consumed in totality’, invited programmer for PhotoIreland and aemi screening. 2021
- Thessaloniki Queer Arts Festival (TQAF), Thessaloniki. 2021
- TQAF at Balkan Can Kino festival, Athens. 2021
- Screening at 6th Biennial of Painting, curated by Eve Woods, Pallas Projects, Croatia. 2021
- Another Hole in the Head Film Festival, San Francisco. 2020
- Screening and panel discussion at Kvindemuseet (Women’s Museum) curated by Pamela Grombacher, Aarhus Art Weekend, Denmark. 2019
- Qflix, Philadelphia. 2018
- Korean Queer Film Festival, Seoul. 2018
- Cork Film Festival, Ireland. 2018
- 10th Imagine Science Film Festival, New York. 2017
- AMINI 17: Festival of Artists’ Moving Image, The MAC, Belfast. 2017
- Loop Barcelona: City Screen, Damer House at La Place Art Space, Spain. 2017
- Urban Nomad Film Festival, Taiwan. 2017
- Dingle International Film Festival, Ireland. 2017
- EMAF, European Media Arts Festival, Germany. 2016
- Cork Film Festival, Ireland. 2016
- Alchemy Film & Moving Image Festival, Scotland. 2015
- Abandon Normal Devices, Cornerhouse, Manchester. 2012
- Tenderflix Film Screening, Tenderpixel, London. 2012
- The London Short Film Festival. Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA), London. 2012
- Big Screen, Latitude Festival with Lux, Cine-city and Supernormal Festival, UK. 2012
- WNDX, Festival of Moving Image, Canada. 2012
- FEST; International Film Festival, Portugal. 2011
Collections
- Irish Museum of Modern Art, donated by Friends of the National Collection of Ireland
- Crawford Art Gallery
- Arts Council of Ireland
- Fingal County Council Municipal Art Collection
- Highlanes: Drogheda Municipal Art Collection
- V&A National Art Library
Review Panels
- Arts Council of Ireland, peer-review assessment panel, 2018-2022.
- Arts Council of Northern Ireland, assessor for funded projects, 2017-2019.
- Grangegorman Development Agency, panel reviewer. 2017.
kevin gaffney