Caoimhín Gaffney

Caoimhín Gaffney is an artist, researcher and writer in Dublin. 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. Their work is in several state and county collections and their international recognition includes being an UNESCO-Aschberg laureate artist-in-residence at South Korea’s National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.

In 2024-2025, a national tour of their work was curated by Anna O’Sullivan, from the Butler Gallery to the Highlanes Gallery & Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre. Other solo exhibitions include the Crawford Art Gallery, Block 336 in London, and the Contemporary Art Institute (CAI02) in Sapporo. Their films have screened at FACT Liverpool, 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 2025, the Butler Gallery published the second monograph of their work, All at Once Collapsing Together, featuring photographs, film stills, scripts and printed text pieces. In 2017, their first monography, Unseen By My Open Eyes, was published, featuring film scripts and their corresponding translations in Irish, Persian, Korean and Mandarin was published. *Caoimhín is pronounced like “kwee-veen”

Driven by research, my work uses speculative fiction to envision alternative ways of being and worlds with their own logic and possibilities. My image-making practice involves filmmaking and analogue photography, and my writing practice is used to create film scripts, fictional stories, printed texts, sculptures and audio works. These are often without traditional narratives or character arcs, aiming to create an unsettled terrain that reflects the uncomfortable histories, emotions and sensations they discuss.

From their earliest films, Gaffney has worked on refiguring the body politic. The speculative worlds they create make havoc of the dominant institutions that yoke lived experience into conventional and orderly lives. Put another way, Gaffney is drawn to how queers experiment with ways to liberate their selfhood from the identity categories imposed upon them. Along the way, their work has resignified the messy bodies of post-conceptual art, offering a queer aesthetic formed around the visceral capacity to unhitch bodies from the reifying powers of identity that affix us to communities, genders, and the bodies we’re born in.

Karl Schoonover, Professor of Film and Television Studies, Warwick University

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

• Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre. 2025

• Butler Gallery. 2024

• Highlanes Gallery. 2024

• Cinema screening: Art Link at Buncrana Cinema, Donegal. 2023

• Crawford Art Gallery, Ireland. 2020/21

• Screening: Irish Museum of Modern Art. 2020               

• Outburst Queer Arts Festival, Ulster University Gallery, Northern Ireland. 2019             

• CAI02 Contemporary Art Institute, Sapporo, Japan. 2018      

• Cinema 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   

• Visual Art Bursary Award, Arts Council of Ireland. 2025, 2024, 2023, 2011

• Film Project Award, Arts Council of Ireland. 2025, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2012

• Arts Grant Award, Dublin City Council. 2025, 2018

• 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 9^th 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

Group Exhibitions                                             

• Bea Orpen: Paint & Purpose, Highlanes Gallery. 2026
• TULCA: Strange Lands Still Bear Common Ground, Galway, curated by Beulah Ezeugo. 2025

• TULCA: The Longest Shadow Ever Cast, 334 Broome St, New York. 2025

• Punctum: Works from the Arts Council Collection at Glór, Clare. 2025

• To be spat back out, GOMA, Waterford, exhibition with Bassam Issa Al-Sabah and Jennifer Mehigan. 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 

• Terrains: Ecosystems, Deep Focus at Goldsmiths Cinema, London. 2026

• Irish Artist Short Films: Roleplaying Online, FACT, Liverpool. 2026

• 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 6^th 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 

• 10^th Imagine Science Film Festival, The New School, 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 

• Rencontres Internationales, Paris. 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   

Academia

• Lecturer, 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: 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).

Talks, workshops and in-conversations

• In-conversation with Anna O’Sullivan, at Uillinn. 2025

• VAI Get Together: panel 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: panel on sex & vulnerability in film at Kvindemuseet (Women’s Museum), Denmark. 2019

• Bealtaine Festival: panel 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 Highlanes Gallery (2024), Marino Institute of Education (2018).

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
• Luciano Benetton, Italy

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.