Oil on Perspex
60 x 40 inches
Ciara Rafferty
Biography
San Diego native, Ciara Rafferty weaves together influence from art and social culture of the past with the oversaturated yet highly appealing framework of the modern digital age. The work alleges to depict reality, but it is a reality that is artificial and slightly skewed. Her paintings play with the increasingly present dichotomies between old and new, craft and technology, and the real and the imagined to investigate the uncanny relationship that these constructed realities produce. Her artwork resembles that of Rene Magritte and other prominent Surrealist painters of the 1920’s. Her artwork evokes a feeling of the unfamiliar or the eerie in the context of the everyday. The subject matter is lighthearted and pleasant but the more you look into the composition the viewer unlocks the truth of the scene; components seem to be missing, floating in space, there is no detectable life, and shadows are abstracted. Her paintings are infused with a subtle sense of humor amidst a nostalgic backdrop, and often depict empty gathering spaces. However, they also offer an optimistic outlook to the activities present with a deeper appreciation of their simple value.
Ciara received her BFA in Visual Arts and Art History from the University of San Diego in 2008 and her MFA from the New York Academy of Art in 2016. She has attended residencies at the Terra Foundation for American Art in Giverny, France, Altos de Chavón School of Design in La Romana, Dominican Republic and at the Cuttyhunk Island Residency in Cuttyhunk, MA. Recent exhibitions include No Lifeguard On Duty, Montauk Beach House, Lost Summer, Roman Fine Art, Scope New York 2019, Moniker Art Fair 2019, Philadelphia Fine Art Fair 2019, and Kitsch-In-Sync: Art and Its Opposite, Newport Beach.
CV
Education:
2016
M.F.A. Painting, New York Academy of Art
2009
B.A. Art History/B.A. Visual Arts, University of San Diego
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2024
“Take Home A Nude,” Sotheby’s Auction House, NYC Kylemore Residency Exhibition, NYC
Museum School Art Auction, San Diego
2023
Museum School Art Auction 2023, San Diego
2022
Alumni Works, University of San Diego Museum School Art Auction, San Diego
2021
SCOPE Miami Beach Art Fair, South Beach
The Blue Review Art Prize Artsy exhibition, Sugarlift, NYC
2020
Lost Summer, Sag Harbor, NY SCOPE New York Art Fair, NYC
No Lifeguard on Duty, Roman Fine Art, East Hampton Palette to Palate, Greenport, NY Winter Group, Roman Fine Art, East Hampton
2019
PULSE Art Fair Miami, FL
Tabula Rasa; The Watermill Center Benefit and Auction, NY
SCOPE New York Art Fair, NYC
Moniker Art Fair, NYC
Philadelphia Fine Art Fair, PA
Kitsch-In-Sync: Art and Its Opposite, Coastline Art Gallery, Newport Beach
2018
SCOPE Miami Beach Art Fair, South Beach Texas Contemporary Art Fair, Houston, Texas
Nexus Silent Art Auction, Bread & Salt Gallery, San Diego
Emerging, Blackburn Gallery, New York
“Take Home A Nude,” Sotheby’s Auction House, NYC
New York State of Mind – Art America Dalian, X Gallery, Dalian Market Art + Design Fair, Bridgehampton
Pastime/Time Passed, Roman Fine Art, East Hampton
Future Stories, InterContinental NY Barclay Hotel, NYC
SCOPE New York Art Fair, Metropolitan Pavilion, NYC
Get With the Program, Roman Fine Art, East Hampton
Beyond Figuration – Art America Beijing 2018, Cheng Xi Contemporary Art Center
2017
“Get With the Program,” Roman Fine Art, East Hampton Power of Silence, Art Lines Gallery, New Jersey
“First Home, First Art,” One Manhattan Square, NYC
“Take Home A Nude,:” Sotheby’s Auction House, NYC
Art New York/Context Pier 94 Art Miami Fair, Pier 94, NYC
Single Fare 4, Highline Stages, NYC
The Time Is Now, Chesterfield Gallery, NYC
Serena & Lily, Online and In Store locations nationwide
2016
Right Left Brain, New York Academy of Art, NYC
Take Home A Nude 2016, Sotheby’s Auction House, NYC
Bombay Sapphire Gin: 10 Years, 10 Cocktails Retrospective Gallery, Agora Gallery, NYC Picturing The Unprintable, Flux Factory, Long Island City
Water|Bodies, Southampton Arts Center, Southampton
Tribeca Ball, New York Academy of Art, NYC
Giverny Residency Show, New York Academy of Art, NYC
2015
New Ovington Village, Bay Ridge Art Space, Brooklyn Down East Pop Up Show, Casablanca, NYC
Deck the Walls, New York Academy of Art, NYC Tribeca Ball, New York Academy of Art, NYC
2014
Deck the Walls, New York Academy of Art, NYC
Back to the Basement, University of San Diego, San Diego
2012
All Roads Lead to Tourmaline, Surfindian Gallery, San Diego 2009 Deeper Visions, Shelter Surf Shop, Long Beach
Awards and Residences:
2021
The Blue Review Art Prize Honorable Mention, Sugarlift Gallery, NYC
2017
Fieldstones Artist Residency, Medusa, New York
Cuttyhunk Artist Residency, Cuttyhunk Island, Massachusetts
2016
Altos de Chavon Artist in Residence, La Romana, Dominican Republic
Commencement Speaker, New York Academy of Art
2015
Terra Foundation Residency, Giverny, France
Katherine Chapin Memorial Fund Award, New York Academy of Art
Elected Student Artists Council Representative, New York Academy of Art
Merit Scholarship recipient, New York Academy of Art
Academy Service Scholarship recipient, New York Academy of Art
Publications:
2018
Maggie Finney, “Bridgehampton Brings On The Art: Market Art + Design Starts July 5th”
Editorial Board, “Editor’s Picks: The Season Ahead in Visual Arts”, Sag Harbor Express
Olivia Rutigliano, “Reminisce About ‘The Good Old Days’ With ‘Pastime/Time Passed’”
Jennifer Landes, “All’s Fair in Hamptons Art Fairs”, The East Hampton Star
Bertrand Langhorne, “Five Exhibitions Now on View at Hamptons + North Fork Art Galleries”, Dan’s Papers
“Beyond Figuration – Art America Beijing 2018”, WeChat
Hamptons Art Hub Staff, “East End Gallery Scene”, Hamptons Art Hub, November 2,
2017
Hamptons Art Hub Staff, “East End Gallery Scene”, Hamptons Art Hub
2016
Sam Dangremond, “This Exhibition Celebrates Beach Life in the Hamptons”, Town & Country Magazine
Anthony Bowles, “10 Years, 10 Cocktails Art Gallery Unveiling Presented By Bombay Sapphire Gin”
Workshops:
2015
Artistic Anatomy Dissection Workshop, The City College Of New York
2012-14
Artist Assistant to Bradford J Salamon, Coastline Community College
Employment History:
2022-2023
Lower School Art Teacher at LJCDS
Lecturer of Visual Arts at the University of San Diego
2021
Mural Assistant for Bread & Salt Stop the Spread campaign, San Diego Teaching Artist at ICA San Diego
2020
Lower School Art Teacher at LJCDS
2019
Lecturer of Visual Arts at the University of San Diego
2016-2018
Assistant Director of Continuing Studies, New York Academy of Art
2016
Substitute/After School Program Art Teacher, Convent of the Sacred Heart, NYC
Assistant to Diana Kellogg Architect
2010-15
Studio Manager/Lead Instructor, My Art Shed
2013-15
Substitute Art Teacher, The Bishop’s School
2014-16
Library Assistant, Circulation Desk, New York Academy of Art
2013
Office Manager and Artist Assistant, Sokol Glass Art
2012
Gallery Manager/Curator, Surfindian Gallery
2009-10
Sales Associate/Curator, Contemporary Fine Arts Gallery
2008-09
Assistant Framer, JAG Art & Framing