About
Chloe Austin (she/her) is an interdisciplinary artist whose work bridges text and video installations to interrogate the intersections of language, history and feminism. She completed her PhD exploring queer and feminist typographic interventions in contemporary Ireland at Ulster University in 2025, where she also completed her MFA in 2020. Previously, she earned her BA in Fine Art and Design at Crawford College in Cork in 2017. Chloe is currently a Freelands Fellow at Cardiff Metropolitan University (CSAD).
Chloe's work has been exhibited throughout Ireland and the UK in galleries such as Golden Thread Gallery, The LAB Gallery, and GOMA Waterford. Her practice explores performative approaches to archival material and typographic history, investigating how text-based communication shapes and reflects queer-feminist expression in Ireland and the UK. This situates her work within larger conversations about identity and communication.
Chloe’s accolades include SIAP from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (2025), the Agility Award from The Arts Council of Ireland (2022-24), the ACNI: IERP, and the 126 Gallery Micro-Grant Programme (2021). Earlier in her career, she received the Alice Berger Hammerschlag Award from Belfast School of Art (2018) and the Cork Film Centre Exhibition Award (2017).
SELECTED REVIEWS:
2026
Lesbian archive inspires textile art collaboration, Rose Kendall
https://glasgowstandard.com/2026/04/23/lesbian-archive-inspires-textile-art-collaboration/
2025
‘In The Press’, Camilla Wrabetz
https://overlaps.substack.com/p/in-the-press
2022
Digital art in Ireland long predates NFTs, Cristín Leach
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/digital-art-in-ireland-long-predates-nfts-fn3x6cqq8
2020
'Not Alone' Travelling Exhibition, Golden Thread Gallery, The Visual Artists News Sheet Online, by Gwen Burlington
https://visualartistsireland.com/critique-not-alone-travelling-exhibition
Visual Artist Newsletter, VAN 100, Four Decades of Irish Sculpture, review of 'KEEP-DRY', by Chloe Austin
https://visualartists.ie/van-ebulletin/out-now-march-april-2020-issue-of-the-visual-artists-news-sheet/
2017
'Sisters of The Moon', GOMA Waterford, by Eamonn Maxwell
https://curatoronabike.wordpress.com/2017/07/14/sisters-of-the-moon/
'Beyond Dialogue', CCAD Degree Show, CIRCA, by Lincoln
http://circaartmagazine.website/degree-shows-writers-choice/crawford-college-of-art-and-design-degree-show-chloe-austin/
RESIDENCIES:
2025
Cove Park Residency, Scotland
2022
Digital Arts Studios, Future Labs Foundation Residency, Belfast
The Dollhouse Space (Virtual Residency), The Netherlands
2021
Digital Arts Studios (DAS) Home Residency, Belfast
2020
TRANSIENT, Instagram Residency
MFA Takeover, Collaborative Instagram Residency
WORKSHOPS/TALKS:
2024
DIY Typography Workshop, Digital Arts Studios, January
An Archival Exploration and Zine-making Workshop, Crawford College of Art and Design (MTU), March
2023
Open Communal Drawing Online Workshop, PS2 Gallery, 16th & 23rd May
Artist Talk with Alice Maher and Emma Brennan, Golden Thread Gallery, April
Artist Talk with Alice Maher and Emma Brennan, Healing Through Photography Conference | Belfast Exposed Gallery, Golden Thread Gallery, April
In Conversation with Anna Liesching on VOX HYBRIDA, Golden Thread Gallery, International Women’s Day, March
2022
Artist Discussion with Jennifer Alexander and Michaela Nash, Re-Vision Performing Arts Festival Exhibition in association with NI Mental Health Arts Festival, May
2020
In Conversation with Kitsch Doom, Matt Higgs and Ciara O'Neill, Online Event, Garter Lane, November
Poetry Workshop in response to ‘On Refusal’ Exhibition, The MAC, Belfast, January
2018
Visiting Artist Lecture, Crawford College of Fine Art and Design, March
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE:
2022
Gallery Assistant, Golden Thread Gallery
2021 - Present
Researcher for Clare Langan
2021 - 2024
Studio Member of Flax Arts Studios
2021
Co-Director at Platform Arts
2020 - 2022
Curator of IN MOTION, Video Artist Collective
2019 - 2023
Founder and Creative Director of RE-VISION Performing Arts Festival, Belfast
Selection Panel for Cork Film Festival, June – November
2018
Curatorial Internship, 126 Gallery, Galway, July – January
Co-curator of BDGRL Exhibition, 126 Gallery, Galway, January
FEATURES:
2023
Focail na mBan: Womens Words by Manchán Magan, Mayo Books
2022
object + word Publication, Flax Arts Studios
2020
Show Me How You Care, University of Glasgow and Glasgow School of Art
https://showmehowyoucare.cargo.site/
The Social Distance Art Project (TSDAP)
https://www.thesocialdistanceartproject.co.uk/multidisciplinary/o3slaj1i1re85yxwfb399451ihunn1
The MASS Collective, Issue: INHUMAN
https://www.the-mass.com/october-2020
Pssquared Gallery, Belfast, HOME WORK, Art in Lockdown
https://www.pssquared.org/projects/home-work
2019
Brenda Magazine feature, issue ‘Twin’: https://www.brenda-mag.com/
2018
(Un)titled Publication: https://untitledpublication.com/chloe-austin-feature
EDUCATION:
2022- 2025
PhD, Ulster University, Belfast, UK
2020
Master of Fine Arts, Ulster University, Belfast, UK
2017
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Crawford College, Cork, Ireland
EXHIBITIONS & PERFORMANCES:
2026
Darling Diaphanous, Glasgow Women's Library, Dec ‘25-May ‘26
2025
In The Press, Hypha Studios, London, January
2024
Living but a Day, Solo exhibition, GOMA Waterford, September
Living but a Day: Dear Readers, Solo exhibition, LHQ Gallery, Cork, August
Living but a Day: Encounters, Solo exhibition, The LAB Gallery, Dublin, May
Living but a Day: Archival Discomfort, Performance-lecture, BIFPA, Belfast, March
Living but a Day: Anamcara, Collective performance, The Fumbally Stables, February
2023
Focail na mBan, Exhibition & Performance, The Fumbally Stables, November
Living but a Day: Women's Words, Solo exhibition, PS2 Gallery, September
JOYRIDE!, Portview Trade Centre, September
I Rise, NI Mental Health Arts Festival, May
Visible Marks // Material Remains, Digital Arts Studios, May
VOX HYBRIDA, Alice Maher Exhibition, Golden Thread Gallery, February
URGENCIES, (CCA) Derry/Londonderry, January
2022
object + word, Flax Arts Studios Project Space, May
Here's Me Here, Flax Arts Studios Project Space, February
Instructions Unclear, Billboard Project, Pssquared Gallery, January
ROOMIES, In Motion at The Dollhouse Space, The Netherlands, January
2021
Going Up The Wall, Pssquared Gallery, Royal Avenue, Belfast, April
IN SITU / IN PLACE, in partnership with TSDAP and Susak Expo, hosted by SHIM Art Network
Cuckoo Clock, Perspective Wellbeing Centre, Mayo, February
2020
1FTSQ, Online Event, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, December
Swipe Right, Virtual Exhibition, Profile Gallery, December
NUA Collective Member Show, Virtual Exhibition, December
MFA Degree Show, Belfast School of Art, The MAC International, September
Not Alone, Touring Exhibition, Golden Thread Gallery, August
It Is I Who Leaves / It Is I Who Remains, Kinsale Arts Weekend, July
KEEP-DRY, Catalyst Arts, MFA, Ulster University, Belfast, January
2019
K-Fest, Visual and Performing Arts Festival, Kerry, June
Normal Position, Show Position, Platform Arts, MFA Group Show, Ulster University, Belfast, May
2018
Lost + Found, Culture Night, Galway Arts Centre, September
ABSENCE, Solo exhibition, Kinsale Arts Weekend, Kinsale, July
K-Fest, Visual and Performing Arts Festival, Kerry, June
INABSOLUTE, Cork Film Centre Exhibition Award, Cork Film Centre, March -April
EXTRA, 130 Gallery, Western Carolina University, March
Nasty Women London, The Black & White Building, 74 Rivington St, London, March
Peripheries OPEN, Gorey School of Art, Wexford December-January
2017
TRUMPED, Nasty Women North East, Gateshead, November
Nasty Women North East, Clarity House, Gateshead, November
Sisters of The Moon, Waterford Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), July-August
Kinsale Arts Weekend, Kinsale, June
Beyond Dialogue, Crawford College of Fine Art and Design, June
Nasty Women, Byker Community Centre, Newcastle, April
Roots and Wings, The House of Blah Blah, Middlesbrough, March
AWARDS:
2025
SIAP Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Crazy Peach Foundation
2022-24
Agility Award, Arts Council of Ireland
2021
Micro - Grant Programme, Community Foundation NI
Arts Council of Northern Ireland: Individuals Emergency Resilience Programme
126 Gallery Micro-Grant Programme
2020
Freelands Foundation for Re-Vision Performing Arts Festival
2019
Alice Berger Hammerschlag Award, Belfast School of Art, Ulster University
2018
INABSOLUTE, Cork Film Centre Exhibition Award, Cork Film Centre