Connected Horizons: The Artist as Curator – May 26th

Join sculptor and curator Joe Duggan for an in-depth exploration of “double identity” in contemporary art. Drawing on his experience founding London’s Russell Square Sculpture Programme and co-curating Irish Art Now at the Embassy of Ireland, Duggan reflects on how artists can take agency by building their own ecosystems. The session traces a trajectory from DIY “pop-up” strategies—such as his Heavens Full project space, where his studio in East London became a platform for Irish artists—to working at an institutional level. It offers practical insights into securing international support, developing professional networks, and sustaining a rigorous studio practice alongside curatorial work.

Joe Duggan

Joe Duggan (b. Limerick) is a London-based artist and curator. Working across sculpture, photography, and video, his multidisciplinary practice considers social structures and the embedded ideologies that shape them. Rooted in lived experience, the work is characterised by a self-reflective approach, often tempered by a distinct dry wit. A graduate of the Royal College of Art, his studio practice constitutes a significant and evolving body of work. Curatorial work is integral to Duggan’s broader practice. He has founded and led initiatives dedicated to fostering networks and visibility for Irish artists in the UK. Notably, Irish Art Now (2025), which he co-curated at the Embassy of Ireland in London, drew attention to the contribution of Irish contemporary artists working across Britain.

Poster Image: Material exhibition 2021 Gallery view. At the Swiss Cottage Library Gallery, Camden, London. Image courtesy of Joe Duggan.

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