Pádraic Barrett

Artist Bio

Pádraic Barrett is an interdisciplinary Irish artist who works across performance, film, and installation to explore contemporary issues such as techno-capitalism, surveillance, and human agency. Originally from Kerry and based in Cork, he holds an MA in Art and Process (2021) and a BA in Fine Art (2019) from the Crawford College of Art and Design. His practice integrates sculptural installations, performance-based media, and collaborative methodologies to critically engage with societal structures.

Barrett’s work has been exhibited internationally, with recent solo shows including Machination at the Municipal Corporation of Culture of San Joaquin in Santiago, Chile (2023) and The Engineering of Consent II at The Marina Warehouse in Cork (2021). His recent projects include ⌥ertigo, A Crescendo (2025), funded by the Arts Council of Ireland Project Award, and Error: /Undefined (2023), presented as part of Pallas Projects’ Artist-Initiated Projects. Barrett is also a founding member of inter_site, an artist collective focused on site-responsive and collaborative practice. He has exhibited widely across Ireland, the UK, Germany, and Portugal in both solo and group exhibitions.

A recipient of multiple awards from the Arts Council of Ireland and Cork City Council, Barrett has participated in international residencies at GlogauAIR in Berlin and PADA Studios in Lisbon. His work has been featured in public art festivals and gallery settings, gaining recognition for its innovative use of space and narrative. In addition, Barrett shares his insights through visiting lectures at institutions like the Crawford College of Art and Design, engaging students in dialogue about art’s role in sociopolitical critique.

Artist Statement

Pádraic Barrett is an Irish contemporary artist whose interdisciplinary practice spans performance, film, and installation. His work explores the complex intersections between capitalism, technology, and ecological systems, with a particular focus on how these forces affect the human body and the environment. Barrett’s art frequently incorporates elements of surrealism, blending organic and artificial forms to question the boundaries of human and machine influence. His works often recontextualize the body, particularly the queer body, as part of a broader landscape that speaks to resilience, adaptation, and alternative ways of existing within a neoliberal, tech-driven world. His practice is known for immersive and confrontational techniques that challenge viewers to reflect on their roles within societal systems.

Instagram @padraicbarrettstudio

Membership: Backwater Artists Network