Siobhán McDonald
Siobhán works with natural materials, withdrawing them from their cycles of generation, growth and decay. This process gives form to a range of projects which consider our place on Earth in the context of geological time. Her artworks make use of natural phenomena and technologies to stage poetic and philosophical engagements between people and their natural world. Beginning with a specific site of investigation, Siobhán weaves diverse narratives into visual stories, often inviting nature itself to participate in the creative process. Her research-driven practice employs a distinctive artistic language to express intangible processes, utilising painting, drawing, film, and sound.
Siobhán McDonald is the recipient of prestigious international awards, including the European Commission’s S+T+ARTS 4Water Award (2024) and the inaugural Ocean Memory Award (2022). In 2023, she received further awards through the EU Commission Alumni Award (Italy), the Alfred Kordelin Foundation Climate Whirl Award (Helsinki), and the Project Award (Ireland).
Presentation highlights include solo exhibitions at venues such as the Royal Hibernian Academy, Ireland (2025); VISUAL, Ireland (2024); The Model, Sligo (2023); Living Canvas Public Art Project, Ireland (2023); Palais des Beaux-Arts (BOZAR), Brussels (2022 and 2020); Ars Electronica, Austria (2022); Centrul Cultural Clujean, Romania (2022); The Weisman Museum, USA (2022); Centre for Contemporary Art ŁAŹNIA, Poland (2022); Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris (2022, 2017); Deutsches Hygiene-Museum (DHMD), Germany (2022); Volta, Basel (2021); Limerick City Art Gallery (2019); and the National Trust–Fox Talbot Museum, UK (2019), among others.
McDonald earned her Master’s degree in Art Practice from IADT, Ireland, in 2011. Her work is held in numerous public and private collections. MA in Visual Arts Practice, Dun Laoghaire, Institute of Art and Design, Dublin. BA (Honours) Degree in Art and Design University of Ulster at Belfast