Joseph Heffernan b.1987 is an Irish artist based in Backwater Artists Studios, Cork.

Selected Exhibitions

Solo

• 2024: The Dolls House, Triskel SAMPLE Project Space, Triskel Arts Centre, Cork
• 2023: A Thousand Years, Studio 12 Gallery, Backwater Artists Studios, Cork
• 2022: The Golden Age, Blue House Gallery, Schull, West Cork
• 2020: There were Strange Gatherings, Ashford Gallery, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
• 2018: Borderland/Memento, Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford (2-Person)

Group

• 2025: Winter Exhibition, Lavit Gallery, Cork
• 2025: Final Figures, Lord Mayors Pavilion, Cork
• 2025: Final Figures, Lord Mayors Pavilion, Cork
• 2024: Dunamaise Annual Open, Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise
• 2024: Field Trip, Lavit Gallery, Cork
• 2023: 193rd Annual Open, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
• 2023: Displacement and Belonging – Home, RUA RED, Dublin
• 2023: Annual Members Show, Lavit Gallery, Cork
• 2022: Winter Show, Lavit Gallery, Cork
• 2022: Sample Studios Annual Members Show, Lord Mayors Pavilion, Cork
• 2022: Closer, Lavit Gallery, Cork
• 2022: Annual Members Show, Lavit Gallery, Cork
• 2021: Sample Studios Winter Members Show, Lord Mayors Pavilion, Cork
• 2021: Annual Members Show, Lavit Gallery, Cork
• 2021: Backwater 30th Anniversary Exhibition, Blue House Gallery, Schull
• 2020: 190th Annual Open, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
• 2020: A way out of the Valley, RUA RED Cafe, Dublin
• 2019: Sample Studios Showcase, Sample Studios, Cork
• 2019: 189th Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
• 2019: Cahoots, A4 Sounds, Dublin
• 2019: 56th Annual Open, Lavit Gallery, Cork
• 2018: 188th Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
• 2018: Programme your Retro-Active Wish, Catalyst Arts, Belfast
• 2017: Sample Studios Annual Members Show, BOI, Patrick St, Cork
• 2017: The Rag and Bone Shop of the Heart, Mayfield Arts Centre, Cork
• 2017: GOMA Members Annual Exhibition, GOMA, Waterford
• 2017: This is not a FAS building, Mallow Arts Festival, Mallow
• 2017: Incognito, Solomon Fine Art, Dublin
• 2017: Farrago, Rogue Gallery, Waterford
• 2016: The End, SOMA Contemporary, Waterford
• 2016: NCAD MFA Showcase, NCAD Annex, Dublin
• 2015: Breaking Sensations, Hive Gallery, Waterford
• 2015: We are all nonetheless under the influence of Gravity, NCAD Annex, Dublin
• 2014: Between here and there, Pallas Projects, Dublin
• 2012: Members Exhibition, Sample Studios, Cork
• 2011: Members Exhibition, Sample Studios, Cork
• 2011: Invited Artists Exhibitions, Duhallow Arts Festival, Kanturk, Cork
• 2010: Lost Things, Couch Gallery, Cork
• 2009: Site 46, Crawford College of Art and Design, Cork
• 2009: Fledglings, Lavit Gallery, Cork
• 2008: Blank Space, James Barry Exhibition Centre, Cork
• 2008: 30, Old ESB Building, Coburg St, Cork
• 2005: Blueprint, Colaiste Stiofain Naoife, Cork

Education

• 2013-2016: MFA(Painting), NCAD, Dublin.
• 2012-2013: Creative Ceramics Level 6, Colaiste Stiofain Naoife.
• 2005-2009: Hons BA(Fine Art), Crawford College of Art and Design.

Selected Press

• 2022 VAI News Sheet, Critique: “Closer” by Cristin Leach, July/August Issue, page 26.
• 2020 Irish Arts Review, “Curious Encounters” by Michael Waldron, Spring 2020, Volume 37, Issue 1, pages 74-75.
• 2019 RTE Arena, Review of the 189th RHA Annual Open by Declan Long.
• 2019 The Sunday Independent, “What Lies Beneath: Crusade” by Joseph Heffernan, May 26th, 2019.
• 2016 The Irish Times, Visual Art: “Anxious, formidable work at graduate shows” by Aidan Dunne, June 2016.

Awards

• 2023 Cork City Council Individual Artists Bursary
• 2021 Arts Council Agility Award
• 2020 Contemporary Irish Arts Society Award for a work of Distinction