Caroline McCarthy

Caroline McCarthy grew up in Dundalk, Co. Louth. She studied at the National College of Art and Design and Goldsmith’s College, London. An exhibition by Janine Antoni at IMMA in 1995 proved inspirational: ‘Her humour was the key. As a tool, I could see that it was both powerful and serious. Humour in its very essence is about questioning …’ Humour is an important element of McCarthy’s work, she plays with our perceptions and questions generally held opinions on art and value. Her works in video, sculpture, paint, photography and installation, make wry observations about the nature of consumerism and representation. She uses unusual materials including toilet paper, plastic bags and tape, as well as more traditional media. Based in London, McCarthy has exhibited nationally and internationally since the 1990s and her work is in many public and private collections including IMMA, the Arts Council and AIB. Recent public art projects include: From One End to the Other, a citywide project for the Norfolk and Norwich Festival (2013) and Flying Boots and Eyes on Fire for South London commissioned by the Contemporary Art Society (2019).She is represented by Green on Red Gallery in Dublin.