Irish artist Joanne 'Betty' Conlon
I regularly photograph my surroundings, documenting my ever-changing urban environment. Living in Dublin for over 30 years, I’ve developed a deep connection to the city and a strong interest in preserving its spaces and communities. My work explores the importance of place and belonging, with a particular focus on overlooked or disused buildings—sites with rich histories that are slowly fading through neglect. By recording them through photography and drawing, I aim to hold onto their stories while creating new ones.
Much of my work engages with the past. I draw on a personal archive of found materials collected over many years, including photographs, slides, letters, postcards and books—most over 40 years old. Some are intimate and personal, capturing friends and family; others are more formal, educational or promotional in nature. I rework these materials through drawing, printmaking and collage, recontextualising them to create new narratives where fact and fiction quietly intersect.
I am a professional member of Visual Artists Ireland and my work is held in both private and public collections.
Selected Exhibitions
2026/2025 - Inaugural Hunt Open Submission Exhibition
2025 - Halftone Print Fair | Curated by PhotoIreland | The Library Project
2025 - RUA Annual Exhibition
2025 - The secret of colour and light - ArtNetdlr Group Exhibition | Selected by Sahoko Blake and Curated by Louise Neiland
2025 - Looking out - ArtNetdlr Group Exhibition | Selected by Pauline Flynn
2024 - Halftone Print Fair | Curated by PhotoIreland | The Library Project
2023 - Windmill Art Exhibition | Curated by Jeanette Lowe | Windmill studios
2023 - A Community of Hope: Artists for Dublin Simon Art Auction | Curated by John O’Donnell | Gormleys Fine Art/Adams.ie
2023 - Open Submission Group Show | Curated by Blaise Smith RHA | Dunamaise Gallery
2023 - Small Things Like These | Cork County Council Arts Office’s LHQ Gallery
2023 - Halftone Print Fair | Curated by PhotoIreland | The Library Project
2023 - Commuovere | Curated by Amanda Jane Graham | Birr vintage week
2022/2023 - Person/Presence/Perception | Curated by OPW/NICS | The Burnavon, Dunamaise Arts Centre, Kilmallock Library, Armagh County Museum, Casino Marino
2022 - Celebrating Women’s Day | 10 women showcase handmade artist books and prints | Curated by Mella Travers | The Darkroom
2022 - Halftone Print Fair | Curated by PhotoIreland | The Library Project
2022 - An exhibition in the making | Curated by Mella Travers | The Darkroom | PhotoIreland Festival
2021 - Lost and found | Curated by Mella Travers | The Darkroom | PhotoIreland Festival
2021 - Halftone Print Fair | Curated by PhotoIreland | The Library Project
2020 - RUA Annual Exhibition
2019 - Halftone Print Fair | Curated by PhotoIreland | The Library Project
2019 - RUA Annual Exhibition
2017 - Halftone Print Fair | Curated by PhotoIreland | The Library Project
2017 - RUA Annual Exhibition
2017 - RHA Annual Exhibition
2016 - Halftone Print Fair | Curated by PhotoIreland | The Library Project
2015 - RUA Annual Exhibition
2015 - RHA Annual Exhibition
2014 - RUA Annual Exhibition
2014 - Pursuit of beauty - A visual representation of real women | Curated by Arts Shift | The Library Project
2013 - RUA Annual Exhibition
2013 - Birr Arts Festival Selected by Peter Prendergast
2013 - FORMAT International Photography Festival | Curated by Louise Clements | Derby UK
2012 - Civilising the Wilderness | Curated by Dr. Barbara Dawson and Brian Duggan | Visual
2012 - f/22 | Curated by Karol Liver | Mad Art Gallery | PhotoIreland Festival
Solo Exhibition
2023 - Bounced Cheques - Solo exhibition | Curated by Mella Travers | The Darkroom
Awards
2023 - Awarded Arts Council Agility Award
2023 - Awarded a years membership/mentorship at The DarkRoom
2023 - Awarded Arts Council Agility Award
2022 - Awarded a years membership/mentorship at The DarkRoom
Press, Publications and Talks
2024 - Market forces - Bounced Cheques series published in Irish Arts review.
2024 - Office reflection photographs published in the Italian magazine d la Repubblica to coincide with their article about 'quiet quitting'.
2022 - My photograph inspired the RTÉ Radio Drama on One Digging For Fire, where I discuss its origins, setting the time and place for a story about Limerick’s early 90s music scene.
2021 - Photograph published in Why Cant We? The story of The Cranberries by HotPress.
2019 - Interview with Brand New Retro for Totally Dublin magazine.
2018 - Artist talk at the Stoneybatter Arts Festival.
2018 - Photograph selected for the cover of poetry pamphlet.
2017 - Photographs published in Winter Papers 3 with accompanying essays by Kevin Barry responding to my work.
2017 - Publication by Askeaton Contemporary Arts - Scenes from the Analogue City, Joanne Betty Conlon & Kevin Barry.
2017 - Photographs published in The Irish Examiner.
2015 - Office Reflections photographic series selected for Square Magazine.
2013 - Artist talk at the RUA Annual Exhibition.
My bread and butter
Being a full-time artist is my dream but like most people, I’ve found a way to blend creativity with real-world responsibilities. My husband, Micky and I run Pixelated, our design studio specialising in websites, video, and graphic design.
I also bring over two decades of experience from my part-time role at Forvis Mazars, where I’ve worked across graphic design and the wider digital media landscape.
