Alumni Stories - Bara Palcik
¨College, in many ways, mirrors life itself—introducing you to diverse characters, art forms, and expressions. It serves as a playground for artists, a space to take risks, make mistakes, and learn.¨
Name: Bara Palcik
Current Career: Self-employed artist. Multidisciplinary visual artist, film, painting, socially engaged practice.
NCAD Graduation Year: 2021
Disciplines: MFA Fine Art
Location: Dublin
What career path did you want to follow as a child?
I don’t recall ever wanting to become someone else, I simply remember struggling to truly be myself. As a child, expressing my own will often felt undesirable or out of place. If I were to answer this question honestly, it would be: "I wanted to become myself." That journey only became possible later in life, here in Ireland.
As I grow older, I increasingly recognise the profound influence of my grandparents' lives—their deep love for people and their need to be surrounded by nature. These values resonate strongly in my work.
Why did you decide to study at the National College of Art & Design?
I chose NCAD for my master’s degree after completing my BA at TU Dublin, including 2.5 years living and studying on Sherkin Island, Co. Cork. My goal was to deepen my skills in filmmaking while embracing the freedom to experiment as a student. Sherkin Island instilled in me a strong foundation in drawing and painting, and it was there that I began creating short experimental films—a practice I continued to develop during my MFA studies at NCAD.
Unfortunately, my second year at NCAD was overshadowed by the impact of COVID-19, which disrupted our access to studios and forced us to study from home. Despite this setback, the campus and studios on James’s Street remain an unforgettable and pivotal part of my college experience, shaping both my practice and my perspective as an artist.
Career Preparation and Impact:
My college years, both as a BA and MFA student, offered me the freedom to explore various mixed-media approaches, create bold installations, and experiment with found and recycled materials. This time allowed me to understand that every material carries its own unique potential, and I learned to select materials based on the vision of what I wanted to create. During this time I began delving into themes of identity and belonging, discovering how charged and deeply personal these topics can be.
College, in many ways, mirrors life itself—introducing you to diverse characters, art forms, and expressions. It serves as a playground for artists, a space to take risks, make mistakes, and learn. However, transitioning to professional life requires a shift in perspective. As a professional artist, you must tread carefully, avoiding pitfalls while refining your working tactics, finding your community, and standing by your creative decisions.
You also come to realise that the life of an artist is inherently competitive—a delicate balance between perseverance and passion. Yet, for all its challenges, it’s a path you wouldn’t choose to trade for anything else.
Competitions and Peer Review:
I allow my personal experiences to flow naturally into my work, and in collaborative projects, the individuals I work with leave a meaningful imprint on the creative process. My focus in all my art is to evoke emotions rather than rely on words, striving to create pieces that resonate deeply on an unspoken, visceral level.
The key lessons I learned from preparing for and presenting my work to peers were often challenging, largely because public speaking has never been my strength. Discussing my work always felt deeply personal, as I find it difficult to separate myself from my creations. However, I appreciated the value of constructive critique, especially when shared in a supportive, team-oriented environment. Discussing a work with trusted peers always pushes the work forward.
Despite the initial stress of presenting my work, these experiences taught me the importance of engaging with feedback as an opportunity for growth and connection, both as an artist and as part of a creative community.
Extra-Curricular Training:
Have you heard the saying, “If you want something done, ask a busy person”? As a student, I carried extra baggage when I began my MFA. Alongside my studies, I am also a mother. I often felt that my life was different from other students, who seemed to have fewer responsibilities. I was fully aware of the challenges when applying for the course, but I decided to create art inspired by my child’s life and my experience as a mother of a one-year-old. I admit, pursuing my MFA while single-parenting was a challenge. Despite this—and looking back now, I can say this more easily—I truly enjoyed it. During my studies, I continued creating short films based on my own life, which ultimately inspired me to create my best work to date. While I wouldn’t call my child “an extra-curricular activity”, With a smile, I do feel that my experience as a mother/student should be seen as one. I could answer your question with a simple “No,” but I know that studying art while being a mother made my work different. It shifted my perspective on life and art in general. The essence of those years is embedded in the work I created; it will never fade and serves as a lasting reminder of those precious years when my son was small.
Post-Graduation Experience:
As my child grew older, I shifted my focus to working with children by designing art classes specifically for them, allowing me to continue spending time with my child. I was contracted by a company specialising in this area. I completed all the required training, Garda vetting, and obtained the appropriate certifications to work with individuals under 18. In addition to this, I also began making art with seniors at a nursing home because I see the indescribable value in spending time with older individuals, for whom your time is more precious than anything in the world. I completed the necessary training and certifications to focus on working with an older demographic. The variety of working with different age groups has enriched my socially engaged practice, providing me with invaluable hands-on experiences that have shaped my work.
Since my graduation, in addition to working as a filmmaker, director, and editor, I’ve curated two small exhibitions in Dublin and stepped outside of my comfort zone by taking on the role of publicity manager during a film conference at Trinity College. These smaller art-related events have greatly enriched my artistic practice. I am always open to new adventures and eager to embrace fresh opportunities. One loses the safety net of college after graduation, and the world seems to become one big competition. The art world turns into a never-ending sphere, an organism filled with grant applications, open calls, and rejections. I realise that the more challenging everything becomes, the richer the residue of them I carry into my next work. I believe challenges are essential in the lives of every artist. An artist must find their own unique way of turning these challenges into opportunities for creation and using them to their advantage.
Advice for Prospective Students and Parents:
The advantage of being a student who is encouraged—almost compelled—to embrace their authentic self and discover their unique artistic calling lies in the freedom it provides. You don’t overanalyse what’s right or wrong; there is no definitive "right" or "wrong." You simply follow your passion as a student, with the support of your college as a safety net.
As an example, it’s beyond my capacity to speak about parenthood from the perspective of a mother to someone who has no children. Motherhood is deeply personal, a lived experience that cannot be fully conveyed in words or transferred to another person.
Similarly, I don’t believe students can ever be fully prepared for a (successful) career, any more than someone can be completely ready for parenthood until it happens. Both are journeys of discovery and adaptation.
As a student, the focus should be on doing your best, finding your true calling, and resisting constraints that stifle your creativity or spirit. Dive into research, read extensively, write tirelessly, and let your passions guide you. What you need after college is momentum, an authentic sense of self, determination, and a good dose of luck.
Good luck—take the leap. The fall is worth it.