ARTIST: Kiera O’Toole
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE: Visual Artist
Kiera O’Toole is a visual artist and a doctoral researcher at Loughborough University, UK with a focus on drawing and new phenomenology. Her drawing outputs include conferences, residencies, publications, and exhibitions within gallery and non-gallery spaces. Recent exhibitions include VISUAL Carlow, Highlanes Open Gallery and ‘Beyond Drawing’ curated by Arno Kramer, Ballina Arts Centre, CCA Derry, Leitrim Sculpture Centre’s research residency 'Landscape, Ecology & Environmental and ‘Walking Keshcorran’, a collaborative residency. O’Toole is co-founder of Drawing deCentered which is artist-led collective that explores contemporary drawing practice and research. She is also the recent recipient of the Arts Council of Ireland’s Agility Award.
O’Toole has extensive experience working as an art educator in Australia and Ireland including Teacher-Artist Partnership and Primary Colours which is a primary schools arts education programme by Sligo Arts service. O’Toole is currently a Creative Associate for the Creative Schools Initiative since 2018. Her role includes deepening the understanding of creativity and providing opportunities for schools to develop their creativity in rich and meaningful ways. She is also an Associate Artist for Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership with her most recent project ‘A Splash of Blue’ in collaboration with Mayo County Council and St Angelas National School in Castlebar, Mayo. Developed by children for children, the project involved developing an art appreciation resource based on the art collection in Mayo County Council.
Website: https://www.kieraotooleartist.com