My practice-led research explores magic in contemporary art and I approach this topic as a collection of concepts and practices that do not easily conform to the dominant framework of rationalism. This subject has been well investigated in the history of modern art but only recently has its influence on contemporary art come into focus.

My interest in this topic is strongly influenced by my early life spent in the west of Ireland. This experience afforded a deep immersion in a language and culture that has retained its magical concepts, especially the vernacular religion common to these areas, a version of Catholicism that has practices linked to folklore and magic. Of significant influence is the Irish Otherworld, a realm accessible to humans only through dreams and visions and an encounter with this world is often difficult to articulate using rational terms.

During my BFA I researched Leonora Carrington and Ithell Colquhoun as they intersect with historical Surrealism, Celtic folklore and magic. My research was strongly influenced by the work of Dr. Amy Hale who argues that a continuing reassessment of women’s role in art history has helped to elevate magic into the realm of serious academic study [1]. Significant to my MFA research is the National Art School’s historical connection to the Witch of Kings Cross, Rosaleen Norton (1917-1979), who studied at this institution for two years. Norton’s artistic legacy has international appeal as she was exhibited alongside Leonora Carrington and Ithell Colquhoun in London in 2025 [2]. Her artistic legacy is overdue a reconsideration and part of my research is an attempt to recontextualise her for the contemporary.

My adult life has been spent in Sydney’s inner-west, close to the suburb of Newtown, which has a diverse community replete with different and through these local connections I have encountered figures associated with magic: the artist Vali Myers (Australia), the writer Nevill Drury (Australia), political activist Starhawk (USA) and the prominent contemporary witch, Janet Farrar (UK/Ireland)

References:

1. Hale, Amy. “Communist witches and cyborg magic: the emergence of queer, feminist, esoteric futurism.” Burlington Contemporary, June 2022. https://contemporary.burlington.org.uk/journal/journal/communist-witches-and-cyborg-magic-the-emergence-of-queer-feminist-esoteric-futurism

2. The Last Tuesday Society. “Four Witches & a Warlock: Magickal Art by Rosaleen Norton, Ithell Colquhoun, Madge Gill, Leonora Carrington & Austin Osman Spare.” https://thelasttuesdaysociety.org/exhibition/4-witches-and-a-warlock/