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She uses performance, song, text and forms of visual art (photography, sculpture and video) to explore humanistic and social issues such as death/dying, migration, the ecological crisis and language. Central to her practice in an interest in the utilisation of traditional and contemporary lament to explore at how we, as individuals, communities and societies express and experience loss and grief in response to these social and humanistic issues.
Ceara has shown and performed work widely internationally and in Ireland, including, The National Concert Hall ”Tradition Now Series”, The Museum of Fine Art Florida, STABLE Gallery, Washington, the Katzen Arts Centre, Washington, New York Consulate with Scoil Scairte & Manchán Magan, the Barbican, UK, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum/Atlas Arts, Galway Arts Centre and the National Gallery of Ireland. She has also performed numerous times for visiting heads of state.
Select/ recent original vocal/visual commissions include ‘’Dhá Theangach’’ commissioned by Ormston House Cultural Centre, Grief Spell commissioned by Maynooth University, 2024, Viriditas commissioned by Galway European Capital of Culture 2020 and Saolta Arts, Making Visible commissioned by CREATE, Dubh commissioned by Ormston House as part of EVA Ireland’s International Biennale.
In 23/24 Ceara performed in a series of national and International performances with Iarla Ó Lionáird in Someone Decides Hawk or Dove by the acclaimed visual artist Niamh Mc Cann.
Her debut album CAOIN ( Independently released) in 2021, featuring Francesco Turrisi, Ultan O’Brien, Kevin Murphy produced by Seán Mac Erlaine announced her arrival as an emerging singer on the Irish folk scene, earning a nomination from the RTE Folk Awards for best track, the album received soaring praise.
”Conway provides heartfelt interpretations throughout, adroitly pitched vocals matched by delicate, poetically evocative accompaniments. Sung entirely in Irish, CAOIN pitches Ceara Conway at the forefront of a new generation of sean nós singers.” **** Songlines Magazine
‘’Her respect for tradition, her embrace of innovation, all mark her out as a unique portal in inter-sectional cross-disciplinary art practice in this country at the moment.’’ Alice Maher, Visual Artist and Member of Aosdána
”Conway has a strong, pitch-perfect and distinctive mezzo-soprano voice that deals well with the vocal ornamentation typical of sean nós without losing sight of the central melodies” Living Tradition
Website: www.cearaconway.ie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceara_conway/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ceara.conway/
Bandcamp: https://cearaconway.bandcamp.com/