Alumni Stories - Pat Curran
‘It’s not very often you will have access to a free studio space in the city to work in, as well as the energy that surrounds and bounces off of you there, which mainly comes from other students.’
Name: Pat Curran
Current Career: Artist in Residence
Graduation Year: 2014
Discipline(s): Fine Art
Location: Dublin
What career path did you want to follow as a child?
I didn’t really have a specific career path in mind. As a child, my goal was just to leave school as early as I could, to get a job and support my parents with a wage.
Why did you decide to study at National College of Art & Design?
I had reached a stage in my life where things had to change, so I started attending a Community Employment scheme where we had art classes once a week. Seeing my potential, the art tutor encouraged me to go for a Post-Leaving Cert course in Art at Ballyfermot College of Further Education, with the aim of going on to do a degree course. I’m glad to say that I was then accepted into NCAD through their access course.
How did you develop your career towards your current job / practice?
I was fortunate that the Clancy Quay Artist in Residence Award came about – soon after I left college I applied for it and I was accepted, which helped to set me up for a couple of years.
Another opportunity afforded to me came about in 2016 when Common Ground, a community-based arts organisation in Dublin 8, put out a call for a residency at studio 468 in St Andrews’s Community Centre, Rialto, in response to Citizen Artist. They have supported me since.
What is the one experience during your time at NCAD that has informed you most in your career / work to date?
A defining moment for me came during Painting in Third Year, when we did an exercise that involved bringing in images and objects and putting them up in the studio space. Something subliminal began to happen to me as more and more images started to emerge of people on the margins of society in the city. The objective of the exercise had a profound effect on me, and it continues to be the narrative that runs through my work.
If you were chatting with current NCAD students today what is the one piece of advice you would offer?
Make the most of your time in your studio space – it’s not very often you will have access to a free studio space in the city to work in, as well as the energy that surrounds and bounces off of you there, which mainly comes from other students.
Given the global turmoil and change accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, what in your opinion are the opportunities for those in creative industries?
I was to open my first show, ‘HOME’ in Pallas Projects in March 2020, but it was postponed twice that year. While it was hard, I still had the support of Common Ground. I continued painting and I got to meet with Curator and Art Historian, Catherine Marshall. I reflected a lot on my work during this time.
In 2021 I applied for and was awarded my first ever funding award, the Arts Council’s Agility Award, which was directly linked to the Covid-19 pandemic. I am glad to say that my show ‘HOME’ took place in September 2021 in Pallas Projects.
Portfolio Links:
Instagram: @patcurranartist4
YouTube
