Kathleen McDowall’s performance work embraces the abstract and the physical in equal measures and in a very concrete approach. She has undertaken solo physical performances including Performance Art Oslo (Norway), Sample Studios (Cork) as well as residencies in Forte Marghera (Venice) and Oxford Art Factory (Sydney). In 2019 she collaborated on international festival performances with Robert Curgenven on their live light and sound performance, AGENESIS. In her professional career during the past 20 years McDowall has worked as a speech and language therapist in community and clinical settings in Australia, UK & Ireland. She is currently in the process of writing her first novel for young adults looking into themes of grief and loss, dystopia and communities. 

Residencies:
Greywood Arts, Killeagh (Ireland), August 2023
Aras Eanna Arts Centre, Inis Oírr, Aran Islands (Ireland), May 2023
Dublin City Council Arts Office residency (Ireland), April 2023
Beast Bornholm (Bornholm, Denmark), March 2023
KH Messen (Ålvik, Norway), February 2023
AIR Folldal (Folldal, Norway) December 2022
Sirius Arts Centre (Cobh, Ireland) July 2022
MeetFactory (Prague, Czech Republic) May 2022
Nyksund Kooperativet, (Vesterålen, Norway) Nov 2021
Kvitbrakka (Berlevåg, Norway) Sept-Oct 2021
The Guesthouse, (Cork, Ireland) 2020
Forte Marghera, (Venice, Italy) 2013

Artistic activities (selected) -
2020: Audio performance, Earth Frequency Festival
2016-2019: hosting monthly art space ‘Zolala Klub’, Cork (IE)
2016: Do Why Birds, Sample Studios, Cork (IRL), 2016, solo performance in built structure - photo documentation
2016: Oslo Performance Art festival, Oslo (NO), 2016, performance* with public - photo documentation
2014: Vita Anonyma, The Cube, Oxford Art Factory, Sydney (AU), 2014, durational performance, photo documentation; video documentation
2013: Why Do Birds, Forte Marghera, Venice (IT), 2013, residency & performance - photo documentation
2013: White/Out, Open Provocation Festival, Polruan, Cornwall (UK), 2013, physical performance
2013: Friv Move, Zamek, Pozñan (PL), 2013, physical performance
2011: Resound Festival, Cornwall (UK), 2011, physical performance
2009: Alp-träum(a), warehouse event, London (UK)

Collaborative performances with Robert Curgenven
SPECTRES:
30.09.22 - Biuro Dzwieku Katowice, Katowice (Poland)
17.09.22 - Pawilon, Poznan (Poland) - SPECTRES + My Disco + Nadja
16.09.22 - Wolskie Centrum Kultury, Warsaw (Poland)
03.09.22 - Control Room Festival, Gdansk (Poland)
24.06.22 - iii (Den Haag, Netherlands)
22.05.22 - Punctum Krasovka (Prague, Czech Republic)

AGENESIS:
Record Room (Limerick, Ireland), June 2023
Open Ear EOY party, Sound House, (Dublin, Ireland), December 2019
Meet Factory (Prague, Czech Republic) November 2019
Insomnia festival (Tromsø, Norway) October 2019
UH Festival (Budapest, Hungary) - October 2019
OSA Festival (Sopot, Poland) September 2019
Gamma Festival (St Petersburg, Russia) July 2019
Cyprus Avenue (Cork, Ireland) - July 2019