Previous Studio Artists and Co-Directors:
About
Basic Space is an independent art organisation with a programme of residencies, exhibitions and educational events in collaboration with practitioners and art institutions throughout Ireland.
We primarily work with emerging and early-career practitioners.
The majority of our projects are hosted or in collaboration with external institutions, where we act as a critical force, challenging attitudes and policy.
Basic Space operates a representative programme, prioritising practices by women, black/brown, disabled and queer artists.
Current Co-Directors:
Laura Harvey-Graham is a Déise-born Dublin-based editor, writer, and arts worker. She is the founder and editor-in chief of literary/visual arts journal An Capall Dorcha, editorial board member of Artefact and committee member of the Irish Association of Art Historians. She has previously been a co-director with Platform Arts and has worked with Todomuta Studio (Seville). As a writer, her work has been published in the Three Fates and the College Green Journal. She currently works full time as Marketing and Communications Manager for MoLI – Museum of Literature Ireland.
Ella Litton is a Dublin based Visual Artist and Curator, recently graduating from a Masters Degree in Art History, Collections and Curating at UCD and previosuly with a BA in Fine Art from TU Dublin in 2022. Ella is 2025-2027 Learning and Engagement Fellow at the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Ella’s practice flows between both making and curating. As a recent graduate herself, Ella’s focus is to give emerging creatives the platform to discuss their practice, aiming to expand the dialogue between artists and spectators.
Ciara Magee is a visual arts producer and curator. She has previously worked with various arts organisations in both Ireland and the United States and was awarded the GOMA Emerging Curator Award, 2026.
Ciara is passionate about supporting emerging artists, helping them grow their practice through meaningful platforms and enriching cultural experiences.
She holds an MA in Cultural Policy and Arts Management from University College Dublin (2018) and a BA in Fine Art from the Limerick School of Art and Design (2016).
History
Basic Space was founded in 2010 by Kari Cahill, Greg Howie, Hannah Fitz and Hugo Byrne and occupied a vacant warehouse on Vicar Street, which was host to studios and exhibitions. Basic Space subsequently was a resident of the Irish Museum of Modern Art’s Residency Programme, followed by a move to the Vacant Space Scheme’s Eblana House in 2013. Eblana House was a multi-use space with studios, a workshop and exhibitions, which closed in April 2016. From 2016, Basic Space has occupied a number of spaces in Dublin, expanding collaborations with art institutions throughout Ireland to programme residencies, exhibitions and educational events.
To date, Basic Space has provided studios for 47 artists, programmed exhibitions and events throughout Ireland, fostered international collaboration and nurtured many of Ireland’s leading artistic practices.