Irish artist Joanne 'Betty' Conlon
I’m Joanne, though most people call me Betty. I’m a Dublin based Irish visual artist working across photography, drawing, printmaking and mixed media, in both analogue and digital formats. Photography sits at the core of my practice, often acting as a starting point that I expand into other forms.
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.
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 and 2022 - Awarded The Arts Council Agility Award
2023 and 2022 - Awarded a years membership/mentorship supported by The Arts Council 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.