Aislinn Connolly/Aislinn Ní Chonghaile (Australia) is an artist living and working on Gadigal land and a graduate of the National Art School. Born in the western suburbs of Sydney into the Irish diaspora, she has lived in both rural Ireland and urban Australia.

Based in the inner-west, this diverse and eclectic area strongly influences her research interests. Working across painting and drawing she creates artworks that facilitate encounters with perception, alternative cosmologies and speculative realities.

Connolly is engaged with contemporary art on an international level. She traveled to Germany in 2026 to undertake a masterclass with the Australian artist Emily Hunt at the Berlin Art Institute.

She is the recipient of the Mark Henry Cain Memorial Travel Scholarship (2023) and the Parkers Sydney Fine Art Drawing Award (2023).

Education

  • 2024-2025 Master of Fine Art (Painting), National Art School (NSW)

  • 2021-2023 Bachelor of Fine Art (Painting), National Art School (NSW)

Group Exhibitions

  • July 16-19 2026, Draw Me Newtown Fundraiser, 31A Enmore Road, Newtown (NSW) (forthcoming)

  • June 5-21 2026: I had too much to dream last night, Airspace Projects, Marrickville (NSW)

  • April 2-26, 2026: EARTH, Articulate Project Space, Leichhardt (NSW)

  • March 26-April 19, 2026: Other Wordly, Newcastle Arts Space, Newcastle (NSW)

  • February 1-25, 2026: PROCESS.ED, Articulate Project Space, Leichhardt (NSW)

  • November 2025: The Postgrad Show, National Art School (NSW)

  • May 2024: MFA Painting Group show, Stairwell Gallery, National Art School (NSW)

  • December 2023: The Grad Show, National Art School (NSW)

  • August 2023: NAS NEO, National Art School (NSW)

  • February 2023: NAS Drawing Week Exhibition (NSW)

Awards & Scholarships

  • Creative Futures Award, Arts Matter + NAS (2025)

  • Mark Henry Cain Travel Scholarship (2023)

  • Parkers Sydney Fine Art Drawing Award (2023)

Workshops & Residencies