Nicola Sheehan

Bio

Nicola Sheehan is a visual artist and educator based in Cork, Ireland. She received a First Class Honours BA in Fine Art in from MTU Crawford College of Art & Design. She works primarily with expanded printmaking techniques, utilising a combination of both digital and analogue processes. The work is heavily research based, and aims to empower female characters she feels have been previously ill-represented or forgotten. In 2023, Nicola had her first solo show, Dear Little Box, which celebrated Irish activist Kathleen Napoli McKenna and studied her role as editor and printer of the Irish Bulletin (1919-1921). The exhibition looked at McKenna’s use of printmaking as a form of protest. Nicola is a member of Cork Printmakers, Limerick Printmakers, Visual Artists Ireland and Backwater Artists Network. Collections include OPW, Cork City Council, MTU and Tyndall, as well as private collections. Recent exhibitions include Cruthú Ó Mhná, Limerick City Museum, Kind of Blue, Crane Visual, Residency 38, Galeria PADA, Barreiro and Dear Little Box, Studio 12. 

Artist Statement

My work looks at female figures whose stories I feel have been ill-represented and looks to re examine and re tell their stories. My practice is heavily research based, and ideas for projects typically come from a period of examining stories and artefacts. Research of iconographic symbols helps to inform my practice both by helping me to understand these artefacts, and also by giving me visual elements to explore within the work. My own body is instrumental in the work; recreating and documenting poses and actions in-character allows me the deepest possible connection to a subject. This lends a performative aspect to the work which is captured via digital photography, and images are evolved using expanded printmaking techniques.

Artist website: nicolasheehan.com

Website: nicolasheehan.com

Email: nicolasheehanart@gmail.com

Instagram: @nicolasheehanart

Tiktok: tiktok.com/@n.nicola

Membership: Backwater Artists Network