Drawing on her upbringing, Katie Watchorn’s practice primarily deals with illuminating the nuances and materiality of Irish rural farming, highlighting the process of contemporary and ancestral Irish life and tradition which is often understated and overlooked. Watchorn has been based on a working 98 acre dairy farm in rural Co. Carlow since graduating from the National College of Art and Design in 2014, with her studio situated within the main outbuildings.
Recent exhibitions include BalehomeBalehome at VISUAL, Carlow, and A Calf Remembered at Wexford Arts Centre, both in 2018. Since graduating, she has received the Overall Winner in the Visual Arts Category of the 2014 Irish Undergraduate Awards, the Hotron Recent Graduate Award 2016, Wexford Arts Centre EVAA Award 2017 and was supported by the Arts Council in 2016 and 2018 for the production of new work.
IMMA 1000 Residency
April – September 2019
Speaking about the residency award Watchorn commented: ‘I am over the moon to have been selected to take part in IMMA’s second year of it’s 1000 residencies. The opportunity to be re-positioned in a city, surrounded by exhibitions, events, talks, mentorship opportunities, and studio visits after the remoteness of the past four years being based in a rural environ will be hugely beneficial.’