Harriet Myfanwy Nia Tahany

Born 1983 in South Wales, but raised in South East London where she lived until the age of 16. Harriet has since made her home and studio in rural Co. Leitrim, Ireland, where she lives to date.

Harriet holds a 1st Class Honours Degree in Fine Art from Sligo IT and completed her (MFA) Masters in Fine Art at the University of Ulster in Belfast in 2009.

Harriet is a multidisciplinary visual artist, working in many mediums including charcoal, paint, installation and video. Her work is an ongoing exploration of themes inspired by fairytales, nursery rhymes and mythology. “I am interested in ‘hermeneutics’ the art, theory and methodology of interpretation, giving attention to characters, events and symbols in a story’s underlying structure.”

As an artist who has come of age in an era defined by popular culture her work, often described as Pop Surrealism exploring ideas concerning the mass media as a present and active part of the cultural consciousness.

Harriet’s work contains a multiplicity of visual languages inspired by popular culture namely animation and childhood culture, fragments of narrative carry with them vestiges of their original meanings and yet in their new setting can also suggest other interpretations. Ima...

2007-2009 University of Ulster, Belfast, MFA – Master of Fine Arts Degree.

2003-2007 Sligo Institute of technology, BA Fine Art, (Honours Distinction)

2001-2002 VEC, Quay ST. Sligo. NCVA Art, Craft & Design, National Council for Vocational Awards (Irish)

1998-1999 A* Distinction for Art in General Certificate of Secondary Education (British)

AWARDS

2007 RDS Taylor Award.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2014       ‘Who Pulls The Strings’ (2nd showing), Teach Bán Nua Contemporary Artists Gallery, Drumcliffe, Co Sligo, Ireland.

2013       ‘Who Pulls The Strings’, White Lady Art Gallery, 14 Wellington Quay, Temple bar, Dublin City Centre, D1, Ireland.

2012        ‘The Fairy Frack Clash’, Emergence/The Little Green Street Gallery, Dublin City Centre North.

2011       ‘Electro’Cute’, The Safehouse Art Gallery, 25 Donegall St, Belfast City Centre, UK.

2011       ‘House of Sweets, A Hansel and Gretel Story’, Frame Of Mine Art Gallery, Ormeau Road, Belfast, UK.

2010       ‘Leprechaun Lolita’, The ArtMart Studios & Gallery, Sligo Town, Co. Sligo, Ireland.

2009       ‘Aladdina’ MFA show, University of Ulster, York Street, Belfast, UK.

2008       ‘Candy Coated’. Teach Bán Nua Contemporary Artists Gallery, Drumcliffe, Co. Sligo, Ireland.

2007       ‘Bedtime Stories’ BA Show, Sligo’s Institute of technology, Co. Sligo, Ireland.

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2016       Group Show with Minaw Collective, ‘Now She Seizes That Moment’ at Gallery X, Dublin City Centre, Ireland.

2016       Group Show with The Twisted Oak collective, ‘Shared Dreamscapes’ at Iníon Veigh, Gallery and Craft Store in Sligo...