About
Artist Biography
Ciara McNamara (b. 2002) is a Brooklyn born and based visual artist whose work explores contemporary industrialization, farming systems, agroecology, and consumerism seen in day-to-day life. Her work is seen across mediums such as oil painting, pen-and-ink drawing, found object sculpture, immersive installation, and most recently, natural dyeing and basket weaving. A recent college graduate, McNamara's Honors Study was awarded the prestigious Oakes and Louise Ames Prize for Best Honors Study of her graduating class, and the Jane Bill Award for maintaining the highest standard of art during her four years as an undergraduate student. In 2023, she studied Art History and Italian Architecture at the Pantheon Institute in Rome, Italy where she also spent time working under the art historian and curator, Dr. Cornelia Lauf, both in Rome and Fara Sabina, for her olive oil company, Agricola Due Leoni. McNamara has also completed an art-centered educational biodynamic farm exchange at Meadow’s Bee Farm in Windham, Vermont.
She has completed two teaching residencies as well as assisting art classes of all ages at Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn. Following her recent assistance of the Annual Spring/Break Art Show in New York, she completed an internship in the Textile Arts Center Artist-in-Residence Programs in Brooklyn, New York. Her most recent exhibitions include Chelsea Walls Gallery, Delaware Valley Arts Alliance Gallery, New York Academy of Art, and Greenpoint Gallery where she received the juried prize for Best in Show. McNamara most recently completed a Summer Residency this June and has begun her year-long CFA, both at the New York Academy of Art in New York, NY.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
2026 - CFA, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY
2024 - BA, Art and Psychology, English minor, distinction in art, Connecticut College, New London, CT
Selected Exhibitions
2025 - A World Inside Exhibition, New York Academy of Art, NY
2025 - Open Call Show, Greenpoint Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2025 - Saint Ann’s Auction, Saint Ann’s School, Brooklyn, NY
2024 - Artist in Sixes Show, Delaware Valley Arts Alliance Gallery, Narrowsburg, NY
2024 - Untitled Summer Group Show, Chelsea Walls Gallery, New York, NY
2024 - Kindred/: Senior Art Major Thesis Exhibition 2024, Cummings Art Center Gallery, New London, CT
2022, 2023, 2024 - Artist and Curator: All-Student Show, Cummings Art Center Gallery, New London, CT
Awards + Fellowships
2025, 2026 - CFA Academy Scholar Award, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY
2025 - Best in Show Juried Prize, Greenpoint Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2024 - Oakes and Louise Ames Prize for Most Outstanding Honors Study, Connecticut College, New London, CT
2024 - Jane Bill Award, Connecticut College, New London, CT
2022 - ConnSSHARP Fellowship, Granted by Connecticut College, Arts Students League, New York, NY
2022 - Salvator Stephen Figliomeni Memorial Art Award ‘82 Connecticut College, New London, CT
2020, 2021, 2022 - Presidential Scholarship awarded to distinguished Dean’s High Honors underclassmen students, Connecticut College, New London, CT
2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 - 1911 Scholarship awarded to a high-achieving student for academic performance, Connecticut College, New London, CT
Residencies + Workshops
2025 - Biodynamic Art-Farm Exchange, Meadow’s Bee Farm, Windham, VT
2025 - Summer Residency, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY
2024 - New York Foundation of Art/New York State Council of Art Artist as Entrepreneur Program, Hosted by Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, Narrowsburg, NY
Published Articles
2025 - Ciara McNamara ‘20 [Alumni Feature], Saint Ann’s Times, Issue: Winter 2024-2025 (2025)
2024 - Art of Consumption, Amy Martin, CC Magazine, Issue: Fall 2024 (2024)
2024 - Artist Interviews: Ciara McNamara: Fast, Farm, Factory Fresh. Chelsea Walls Gallery (2024)
Teaching
2024, 2025 - Teaching Residency for Early Childhood, Scribble Art Workshop, Twin Parks Montessori School + The Equity Project Charter School, New York, NY
2024, 2025 - Art Substitute Teacher for 1st - 12th Grade at Saint Ann’s School, Brooklyn, NY
2021, 2022, 2023 2024 - Art Department Student Advisory Board Member at Connecticut College, New London, CT
2024 - Teaching Assistant for Large Format Painting at Connecticut College, New London, CT
2023 - Teaching Assistant for Introduction to Painting at Connecticut College, New London, CT