In Conversation: Sharon Murphy & Emma Spreadborough

Join us for an insightful and in-depth public conversation between our two exhibiting artists, Sharon Murphy and Emma Spreadborough, moderated by Trish Lambe and Darren Campion, co-curators. In this conversation, the artists will explore the common themes in their solo exhibitions at Photo Museum Ireland, revealing the inspiration and working methods that drive their their respective practices, which share a deep concern with theatricality, performance, and the potential of photographic images to address psychological states. This is a unique opportunity to delve into the relationship between two very distinctive artistic practices, hearing from the artists themselves what motivates their work, in the context of their powerful solo exhibitions.

Artist Biography - Sharon Murphy
Sharon Murphy is a lens-based artist whose practice often incorporates video, sound and installation.Her work has been exhibited most recently at Centre Culturel Irlandais, GOMA Waterford, Limerick City Gallery, RHA, Dublin; NGI, Printing and Drawing Gallery, Draíocht, Golden Thread Gallery, Belfast; Siamsa Tíre, Kerry; Halftone, PhotoIreland; Loop Festival, Barcelona. She is a member of Shell/Ter Artist Collective S/TAC (est 2020) and has a studio at DIVA Dun Laoghaire Dublin. Selected for Centre CultureI Irlandais, Paris Artist Residency 2023 and Dorset Artist Residency, Dorchester, 2023, Murphy’s work is held in private and public collections in Ireland, the UK and the USA and her work has been supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, CCI Paris, Esmee Fairbank Foundation, Dún Laoghaire/Dublin County Council and Carlow County Council. Murphy is a recipient of the Clore Fellowship 2007/2008. Education: Dip. History of European Painting Trinity College Dublin, 2021, BA Photography Dun Laoghaire Institute for Art Design Technology, Dublin, 2014, MA Drama, University College Dublin, 1993.

Artist Biography - Emma Spreadborough
Emma Spreadborough (b.2000) is an Irish artist who works predominantly in photographic media. Her art practice is widely influenced by Irish literature, history, and folklore. She uses the analogies of Brian Friel’s writing to explore the ideas of the Irish home and landscape in the wake of recent Northern Irish history. Emma is a recent graduate of Swansea College of Art, where she graduated with First Class Honours from the Bachelor’s Photography in the Arts course (2020-23).