Irish Women Artists and their International Networks, 1870 – Present
Irish women artists have long forged influential paths beyond Ireland, pursuing their careers in defiance of social, cultural, and political barriers. From Parisian academies and London art schools to contemporary biennials and digital platforms, they built diasporic feminist networks that have shaped artistic production across borders. However, these contributions remain underexplored, particularly outside of Ireland.
We invite proposals that examine international trajectories and transnational networks of Irish women artists from 1870 to the present. We seek investigations into the impact of these women on artistic culture and production in Ireland, but also in Britain, Europe, and beyond. By focusing on global exchange, we aim to reposition the island of Ireland as central, rather than peripheral, to modern and contemporary art, complicating binaries of Ireland-Europe, margin-centre, and tradition-modernity.
We welcome papers on topics including but not limited to:
- Women’s international careers and collaborations
- The role of residencies, institutions, and exhibitions in fostering exchange
- Gender, mobility, and identity in artistic practice
- Archival discoveries revealing overlooked transnational connections
- Methodological innovations, i.e., digital mapping of networks
- Impact of Irish art on European and British contexts
- Challenges to established Irish art historiographies, including its whiteness and the definition of ‘Irishness’
This panel will open with a short introduction by the convenors and conclude with an opportunity to reflect on the question, ‘what’s next for Irish women artists?’ By centring transnational feminist perspectives, we aim to challenge dominant narratives and foster a more inclusive, globally attuned understanding of Irish art.
Submit your Paper via this form. Please download, complete and send it directly to the Session Convenor(s) below by Sunday 2 November 2025:
Cai Lyons, Independent Art Historian, cai.b.lyons@gmail.com
Chiara Harrison Lambe, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, harrison.lambe@hu-berlin.de