Austin Hearne

Austin Hearne is a multi-media artist who uses photography, painting and installation to creative immersive narrative artworks. Coming from a family of painters and decorators, he blends the stuff of the industry with photographic material to make intricate, ephemeral wallpapers, furniture pieces and mise-en-scéne which serve as backdrops for performative and surreal narratives. His work reflects socio-political concerns around the Roman Catholic Church’s occupation of Ireland and more intimate stories inspired by the artist’s homosexuality, working class origins, identity, and family history.

Recent solos projects include: Raymo’s Spawn, Garter Lane, Co. Waterford (2024), as part of the episodic project The Raymo series; Requiem for Raymo, the RHA Gallery (2023); Slabs, The Complex, Dublin (2021); and Love Letters To Cardinal Raymo, Gorey School of Art, Co. Wexford (2021). His film Whispers was shown as part of the Gaze Film Festival where it won Best Irish Short (2022). Select group shows include Mysterious Ways, The Glucksman Gallery, UCC, Cork (2024); Confessions, Lismore Castle Arts (2023); WEAREFETISHISTS, Garter Lane, Co Waterford (2022); Speech sounds, VISUAL, Co. Carlow (2022); Images Are All We Have, PhotoIreland Festival, Dublin Castle (2022); Silver/Celebrating 25 years of Kevin Kavanagh Gallery, Dublin (2019), Periodical Review #8, Pallas Projects, Dublin (2018). His work is included in The Scar as Archive (Stigmata Publishing), Reference Point, London, UK (2024).

Austin is a founding member, and one half of, the post punk, goth band Satin Shadow with Glenn McQuaid. They have released 3 albums on Bandcamp. Austin Hearne is supported by the Arts Council Bursary Award 2020 - 2024.