Hana lives and works in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Her paintings have been exhibited in London, Dublin, and Belfast. She has received awards from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Jerwood Arts, and the University of aTypical.
Image by Kristi McHenry
I explore the intersection of memory, performance and constructed realities through staged figurative paintings. I work predominantly in oil paint; my mediums include paper, card, canvas and wood. I am obsessive about organising and rearranging. As part of my practice, I use collage to construct compositions that blend remembered experiences with imagined narratives. Painting allows me to offload thoughts into physical space and make sense of unresolved emotions.
The work explores the tension between real and fake, public and private, and how we perform within different contexts. I am drawn to the behind-the-scenes aspects of human behaviour, what is hidden and what is revealed. I want the audience to feel a false sense of security when they look at my work, drawn in by structure and familiarity, only to sense the instability beneath.
My paintings are rooted in the real but skew toward the surreal and dystopian. I reflect on the inconsistencies of memory and how information becomes distorted as it is passed between people. The paintings often depict groups of figures that merge into a singular entity, unified by colour and gesture, blurring the line between the individual and the collective.
Exhibitions
Solo
2025 ‘The Ceremony of Falling’, Rattlebag, Belfast
2024 ‘Proceed as Normal’, Roe Valley Arts Centre, Limavady
2022 ‘Walk in the Sun’, The Black Box, Belfast
Group
2026 ‘Summer Open’, Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon, Ireland
‘Mayday Mayday’,Vault Artists Studios, Bankmore House, Belfast
‘Twixt’, University of Atypical, Belfast & Artist’s Talk
2025 ‘Wrapped’, Rattlebag, Belfast
‘Works on Paper 7’, Blue Shop Galleries, London
2024 ‘The Way of All Flesh’, Saatchi Gallery, London, Curated by Delphian Gallery
2023 ‘It’s All Your Vault’, Vault Artist Studios, Marlborough House, Belfast
2022 ‘Signature Art Prize’, Bankside Hotel, London
‘Contemporary Painting’, The Brick Lane Gallery, London
2021 ‘Babushka’, Portrush - Collaborative Project
‘Winter Open’, The Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon, Ireland
2020 ‘Royal Ulster Academy 139th Annual Exhibition’, Ulster Museum, Belfast
‘Falling Facades’ Framewerk Gallery, Belfast East Side Arts Festival
‘Affordable Art Exhibition’ Thought Foundation Gallery, Durham online
2019 ‘Sparks; Collaborations from Inside Vault’, Golden Thread Gallery, Belfast
Awards
2026 Travel Award, SIAP, Arts Council Northern Ireland (ACNI)
2025 D/deaf and Disabled Artists Support Fund, University of Atypical
2023 Mentoring Scheme, Jerwood, Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), Derry
2022 General Arts Award, SIAP, ACNI
2021 Individuals Emergency Resilience Programme, ACNI
Signature Art Prize Shortlisted
2020 The John Richardson Award, RUA, Hambly & Hambly
ACNI Individuals Emergency Resilience Programme
Freelands Foundation Emergency Funding
Bridgman Studio Award Shortlisted
Residencies
2026 Pichet Klunchun Dance Company, Bangkok, Thailand
2025 Teac Damsa, Dingle, West Kerry, Ireland
Education
2014 - 2017 BA: (Theatre & Screen) Technical Arts & Special Effects, Wimbledon College of Arts, University of the Arts London
2013 - 2014 Foundation Diploma: Art & Design, Camberwell College of Arts, University of the Arts London