Derry City artist, Cahal graduated from North-West Regional College, before progressing onto study at The Belfast School of Art at Ulster University. As a practising visual artist, musician and cabaret performer, he is currently exploring the intersection of identity, gender, sexuality and visual iconography through his work.
Utilising a secondary lens-based medium which Cahal can visually communicate through, whilst capturing his primary practice rooted within performance. At the core of his artistic practice is a deep connection to both sexuality and sexual expression, and the utilisation of his personal drag alias; Miss Mary Jane, as an art form, which serves as a constant and continuous source of creative inspiration and outlet for Cahal.
As a female presenting drag performer and a gay man, Cahal is fascinated by the complexities that exist within contemporary society regarding sexual expression, identity, gender, visual iconography, and both socio-politics and pop cultures.
As a musician, self-composition and producing has become a core factor in his work. Often initially inspired and fuelled by musical references, he develops ideas supported by his fine art education and references drawn from cinematography, pop culture and music, utilising both self-production and creative collaboration to produce and direct both lens-based and live performance pieces.
Image: Cahal O'Connell/Miss Mary Jane, Backstage Bunny #2, Image courtesy of the artist.
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