Mandy O’Neill CV

Visual Artist 

Studio 19, Temple Bar Gallery & Studios 2025-2028

Email: oneill.mandy2@gmail.com

Website: www.mandyoneill.ie Instagram: @photomando7 

EDUCATION

 

PhD (practice-based)

DCU School of Communications

Glasnevin, Dublin 9

Year: 2020-2024

 

MA Public Culture and Society

Institute of Art and Design Dun Laoire, Co Dublin

Award: First Class Honours

Year: 2015-2016

 

BA Photography (Hon’s Degree) 

DIT College of Photography and Digital Imaging

Temple Bar, Dublin 2.

Award: First Class Honours

Year: 2001-2005

Upcoming Exhibitions

2026 (October) Title tbc, The Lab Gallery, Dublin 1.

2026 (June) Cathal Brugha St, former TU Dublin site, exhibition of commission for Gaelscoil Colaiste Mhuire Parnell St.

2026 (May) New Irish Works, International Centre for the Image, Coopers Cross, Dublin 1.

2026 (April) Taylor Wessing Photography Competition, PhotoMuseum Ireland, Dublin 2.

Past Exhibitions

Solo

2025 Formwork, Ballina Art Centre, Mayo.

2024 Best Laid Plans, Irish Architectural Archive, Merrion Square, Dublin 2.

2023 Dublin Art Book Fair Artist Commission, TBG&S.

2019 Quiet at the Back, Gallery of Photography, Meeting House Square, Dublin 2. 

2019 Champions Avenue, Public Art, Larkin Community College, Dublin 1.

2019 The Digital Hub Artist in Residence Exhibition, The Digital Exchange, Crane Lane, Dublin 8. 

2018 Promise, permanent installation of Public Art Commission at Gaelscoil Bharra Primary School, Dublin 7. 

2014 Promise, PhotoIreland Festival. 

2010 Exhale Alliance Francaise, Kildare St, Dublin 2. 

Group

2025-2027 Arts Council Collection traveling exhibition in association with MTU.

2025 Exit Strategy, 27 Royal Canal Bank, Phibsborough, Dublin 7.

2023 The Art of Sport, Butler Gallery, Kilkenny.

2023 Irelands Eye, World Trade Centre, Jakarta and ISA Gallery Jakarta, Indonesia.

2022-2023 Making Art: Photography, Draiocht Gallery, Blanchardstown, D15.

2022 The Social Gaze, PhotoMuseum Ireland, Dublin 2.

2022 Opening the Gates, PhotoIreland, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.

2022 Contemporary Irish National Photography Collection Exhibition, Gallery of Photography, Meeting House Square, Dublin 2.

2022 On Possibilities of Friction, A4 Sounds, Dorset St, Dublin 1.

2021 Diversity Commission, Public Art exhibition, various sites Dublin City.

2021 New Perspectives, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin 2.

2020 Portrait commission (Edna O’Brien) – permanent exhibition, Portrait Gallery, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin 2.

2018-2019 Zurich Portrait Prize Exhibition, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin 2

2016 Promise, The Library Project, Dublin 2. 

2018 Promise, Jack and Jill Foundation Annual Exhibition, Solomon Gallery, Dublin 2.

2018 Girlhood, Hermoine Annual Exhibition, Alexandra College, Dublin 6.

2017 Nasty Women, Pallas Projects, The Coombe, Dublin 8.

2017 School Portraits, Draíocht Gallery Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.

2017 New Irish Works ii Plural 17 – International Center of Photography and Cinema, Madrid.

2016 New Irish Works ii, PhotoEspana.

2016 New Irish Works ii, Center Culturel Irlandais, Paris. 

2016 New Irish Works ii, The Library Project, Dublin 2.

2016 Eigse Arts Festival, Visual Center for Contemporary Art, Carlow

2016 Landskrona Festival, Sweden.

2016 RHA Annual Show Dublin.

2016 Halftone Print Fair, The Library Project, Dublin 2

2015-2016 Hennessy Portrait Prize, National Gallery of Ireland

2015 Kindofliketelephone, Artbox, Dublin 1

2015 Greetings from Ireland, Photobook Melbourne. Australia

2015 Greetings from Ireland, Hamburg Triennale of Photography 

2014-2015 Hennessy Portrait Prize, National Gallery of Ireland
2014 Greetings from Ireland The Library Project, PhotoIreland Festival
2014 Promise PhotoIreland Festival
2014 Kindofliketelephone Center for Emerging Visual Artists, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 
2013 New Irish Works  - Paris Photo
2013 New Irish Works  - Unseen Photography Festival Amsterdam
2013 New Irish Works  - London Irish Centre
2013 Every Second Friday - PhotoIreland Festival 2013 - TACTIC Cork
2013 Tradition Keepers and Delight Makers, Belfast Photography Festival
2012 Interchange - Center for Emerging Visual Artists, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 
2012 Family Dynamics, Kat Keirnan Gallery, Virginia, US 
2011 Exhale, Royal Anthropology Institute London 
2010 Passage, PhotoIreland Festival. 
2009 Exhale, Rua Red, Tallaght, Dublin
2009 Every Second Friday, Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Show 2008 ‘Exhale’ Gallery of Photography 30 Contemporary Collection
2008 After AllSligo Art Gallery in association with Hugh Lane Gallery
2008 Exhale, European Month of Photography. Irish Embassy, Berlin

2008 Exhale, Les Rencontres d’Arles. France. Ireland, An Insiders View, in association with the Gallery of Photography
2007 PassageIONTAS Sligo Art Gallery, Sligo Town
2006 Passage, Young Contemporaries at the Peacock, Peacock Theatre, Dublin 1. In association with the Gallery of Photography

2006 RHA Annual Show, Dublin 2
2006 Passage, Pale Space Gallery, Thomas St, Dublin 8
2005 Passage, National Photographic Archive, Dublin 2 
2004 RHA Annual Show, Dublin 2

Selected Awards and Grants

2025 Arts grant, Dublin City Council.

2025 Visual Arts Bursary, Arts Council of Ireland.

2025-2028 Three-year Studio Residency: Temple Bar Gallery & Studios

2023-2024 Project Studio: Temple Bar Gallery & Studios.

2022 Studio award: Fire Station Artist Studios

2021 Irish Research Council Funding Award

2020 RHA Artist Grant

2020 Dublin City University PhD Scholarship

2020 Dublin City Council (North-East Inner City) Arts Grant

2019 - 2021 Artist Residency: Dublin City University All Hallows

2019 Creative Engagement (NAPD) Arts Grant

2019 Dublin City Council Arts Grant

2019 Nomination for Deutsche Borse Photography Prize

2019 Nomination for Prix Pictet Prize

2018 Winner of Zurich Portrait Prize – National Gallery of Ireland

2018 Young People and Children in Education Bursary – Arts Council of Ireland

2017 Young People and Children in Education Bursary – Arts Council of Ireland

2017 Award for Academic Excellence – Bank of Ireland Student of the Year (Masters)

2015 Hennessy Portrait Award - Finalist

2014 Hennessy Portrait Award - Finalist

2014 Julia Margaret Cameron Award - Finalist
2012 Julia Margaret Cameron Award - Finalist
2012 Culture Ireland Grant
2007 Visual Arts Bursary – Arts Council of Ireland
2005 Primary Colour Award for Best Use of Contemporary Photography.

 

Public Art Commissions

Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire, 4 Parnell Square East, D1. 2026

Diversity Commission, Dublin City Council and Creative Ireland), various sites Dublin City 2021

National Gallery of Ireland, D2, 2020

Francis St CBS Primary School, D8, 2019

The Digital Hub, D8, 2019

Larkin Community College, D1, 2018

Gaelscoil Bharra Primary School, D7, 2018

Central Bank of Ireland, D2, 2017

 

Collections

National Photography Collection, PhotoMuseum Ireland

Arts Council of Ireland

National Gallery of Ireland

TU Dublin Faculty of Arts Collection 

Gaelscoil Bharra D7

The Digital Hub D8

Larkin Community College, D1

Francis St CBS, D7

Private collectors

 

Residencies and 

Artist in Residence, Dublin City University, Drumcondra, D9, October 2019-March 2021

Artist in Residence, Larkin Community College, D1, September 2017- May 2019

Artist in Residence, The Digital Hub, D8, 2018- March 2019 

Artist in Residence, Gaelscoil Bharra, Cabra, D7 September 2013 - June 2016

 

Catalogues

2021 New Perspectives, National Gallery of Ireland

2018 Zurich Portrait Prize Catalogue

2016 PhotoIreland Festival Catalogue

2015 Hennessy Portrait Prize Catalogue

2014 Hennessy Portrait Prize Catalogue

2014 PhotoIreland Festival Catalogue

2015 Family Dynamics Exhibition Catalogue

2008 European Month of Photography Exhibition Catalogue

 

Selected Publications, Features, Reviews and TV

2025 Visual Artists Newsletter, Member Profile.

2024 Irish Times, Visual Arts Review, Tom Lorgan.

2023 Dublin Exchange: Reflections on the Changing City, published by Irish Architecture Foundation

2023 Source Magazine, Thinking Through Photography

2021 New Hibernia Review

2021 Irish Independent Weekend magazine – 50 People to watch 2021.

2021 Irish Independent Weekend magazine – Diversity Commission

2020 Irish Times – front page – Edna O’Brien Portrait Commission

2019 Irish Times Visual Arts review. Aidan Dunne

2019 Independent Newspapers Arts feature

2019 Totally Dublin Magazine Arts Feature

2018 Sunday Times Magazine: Zurich Portrait Prize

2018 RTE News: Zurich Portrait Prize

2018 Independent Newspaper: Zurich Portrait Prize

2018 Irish Times, Aidan Dunne: Zurich Portrait Prize

2017 Babylon Radio – Review: School Portraits exhibition, Draíocht Gallery

2016 New Irish Works, Promise monograph

2016 Jeune Magazine - Central St Martins Publication: Youthreach 

2016 Cada Dia un Fotografo, Spain: Promise

2016 Clavoardiendo Magazine, Spain: Promise

2016 Darren Campion – Review: New Irish Works at The Library Project

2015 Irish Times – Review – Aidan Dunne: Eigse Open at Visual Carlow 

2015 Sunday Times Culture Magazine – Review: Hennessy Portrait Prize 2015

2015 Phosmag: Exhale

2014 Image Magazine Interview: Hennessy Portrait Prize

2014 RTE2, The Works: Hennessy Portrait Prize

2014 RTE, 6 One News: Hennessy Portrait Prize

2014 Vulgo: Promise

2014 National Gallery of Ireland website: Hennessy Portrait Prize

2014 PhotoMonitor Feature: Promise

2014 Metro Herald: Hennessy Portrait Prize

2014 Sunday Times Magazine Review: Hennessy Portrait Prize

2014 Northside People Newspaper: Promise
2014 Dundrum Gazette Newspaper: Promise

2013 Independent Newspaper Magazine Feature: New Irish Works

2013 Totally Dublin Magazine feature: New Irish Works

2013 New Irish Works: PhotoIreland Publication

2012 Prism Photography Magazine issue 3: Every Second Friday

2012 Super Massive Black Hole Magazine (Tradition Keepers and Delight Makers)
2012 ‘Family Dynamics’ catalogue published by Blurb (Every Second Friday)
2011 F-Stop Magazine. Issue No. 48. Every Second Friday.
2009 The Sunday Tribune. Exhale.

2005 The Irish Times – Aidan Dunne, Passage.

About

Mandy O’Neill uses expanded photography practice in an instinctual and responsive manner, as a way to understand, process and contain the material and social environments in which we live. She is especially interested in the political and social contexts of our built environment – from schools and community venues, to housing and institutional buildings.

Her multi-layered methodology begins with the act of walking and photographing, where she identifies sites of interest. Geo-historical research and social engagement with communities reveals the lived experiences of these sites, often unearthing their socio-political and ideological underpinnings.

 Works produced are informed by material engagement and material thinking – with the photograph as a point of departure. Recent developments in O’Neill’s practice have included installation, text, video and sound, and a site-responsive approach to exhibition making.

 Drawing on Tim Ingold’s concept of ‘correspondence’, she sees her various projects, not as fixed, but interrelated, with the material outcomes as iterative developments of practice. In this sense her work is ongoing and generative, reflexive and responsive to past endeavours, present realisation  and future potential.