The Residency

Martina will take part in the Garden Studio Residency during the month of August 2025. Martina will embark on a significant new strand of research with the aim of using the space for experimentation, the production of new artworks and hosting a participatory workshop. Over recent years, Martina's work has predominantly responded to industrial and scientific practices that are transforming our relationships with the ocean, from the extraction of the seabed through deep sea mining, to research into the effects of climate change on deep-water corals. This opportunity will allow her to extend her artistic practice through ecological inquiry and public engagement, using the location of the Butler Gallery’s Garden Studio and its proximity to the River Nore as the catalyst for artistic exploration.

About the Artist

Martina O’Brien is an Irish visual artist with a focus on art, science, and ecology. She holds an M.A. in Visual Art Practice from IADT Dún Laoghaire and a National Certificate in Photography and a BA from National College of Art and Design.

Her recent solo exhibitions have included brittle record at Lexicon Municipal Gallery in 2025, draft fissure at Galway Arts Centre in 2024 and midnight zone at Highlanes Municipal Gallery in 2023

Recognized for her interdisciplinary approach, O’Brien has received numerous awards, including several Arts Council of Ireland Visual Arts Bursary Awards and Kildare County Council Arts Act Awards. Her work is held in public and private collections including Butler Gallery and the Office of Public Works.