Aoife Dunne is recipient of Fingal County Council and The RHA Studio Award 2023

Fingal Arts Office in partnership with the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) are delighted to announce Aoife Dunne as the recipient of the 2023 Fingal County Council and RHA Studio Award. 

The award offers a funded studio space within the RHA for one year providing valuable support for an artist to develop their artistic practice. The artist will also have access to the ancillary activities of the RHA school such as master classes, seminars, artist talks and drawing groups as well as placing them directly in an environment with other professional visual artists.

Sarah O’Neill, County Arts Officer commented, “Fingal Arts Office is proud to support Aoife Dunne through this exciting opportunity at the RHA. This award responds to the Fingal County Council 2019 – 2025 Arts Plan objective to enable the creative and professional development of artists and encourage individuals to excel in their thinking and practice.”

Aoife Dunne is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores the intricacies of contemporary existence through ambitious digital installations, fusing sculpture, video, sound, performance, technology, and costume. Her approach incorporates improvisatory, interactive, and performative elements, harnessing digital technology in innovative ways. Her research centers around the profound impact of technology on our perception of place and the dynamic interplay between physical and virtual spaces. With a dedicated focus on exploring the transformative effects of these influences on reality, identity, and community.

Aoife commented on being awarded, “The Fingal County Council and RHA Studio Award holds immense value for me as it provides the ideal space to experiment and continue developing my large-scale immersive works. I am very thankful and excited for the opportunity.”

During her time in the Fingal RHA Studio Residency, Aoife will continue her research on the impact of technology, examining concepts of identity, intimacy, and the nature of reality, further exploring the intersection between technology, art, and embodiment.

Aoife Dunne (B.1995, Ireland) graduated from NCAD Fine Art Media in 2016 and has since exhibited extensively internationally. Her work has been featured in prominent exhibitions, including shows at The Museum of Contemporary Art Denver USA, The Royal Academy of Arts London, and The Irish Museum of Modern Art. Dunne's practice is characterized by its multidisciplinary nature, constantly pushing the boundaries of digital art and its exhibition.