Together artwork by Chloe McDonagh
Artist Chloe McDonagh was invited by IADT’s Access service to create a permanent piece of art for display on campus. This project is part of ongoing work to engage with Traveller and Roma communities, learners and artists, and provide routes and supports for accessing higher education in IADT.
Together was designed in collaboration with IADT students through a typography workshop. Participating students and a group of young Travellers from St Kieran’s National School in Bray attended the launch of Together in IADT on Monday 18th May 2026, to mark the start of National Traveller Pride Week.
Together is now on permanent display in the Atrium Building, IADT.
About the artist:
Chloe McDonagh is an artist and graphic designer working across mixed media, her multidisciplinary practice is deeply rooted in her lived experience as a member of the Traveller community. Her work is driven by a need to tell stories that are often overlooked or misrepresented, exploring Traveller identity and mental health through powerful, emotionally resonant visual language. Her practice challenges stigma and confronts inherited narratives, creating space for honesty, visibility, and connection.
Her work has been exhibited at The Hugh Lane Gallery, the National Museum of Ireland, and The Model, Sligo, and featured in Misleór Arts Festival. Alongside her studio work, she is a dedicated community arts facilitator, using creativity as a tool for empowerment, dialogue, and collective expression. At its core, her practice is about visibility, resistance, and the power of telling your own story.
Website: chloemcd.framer.website
Instagram: @chloemcd_esign
Chloe McDonagh said; “The launch of TOGETHER went exceptionally well, and I’m incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to create a permanent installation within. Opportunities like this are rare, and I don’t take them lightly. A huge thank you to Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology the Access Office, the students who participated in the workshop, and everyone who supported or contributed to the project in any way. Your involvement helped shape this piece into something far bigger than myself. Together, we chose the word TOGETHER, a reflection of the project’s core message of connection, inclusion, and belonging. Each letter was designed differently through varying forms, colours, and visual languages, representing the individuality of each contributor. Distinct on their own, but stronger as a collective whole. The repetition of the word in sequences of three also carries symbolic meaning. Across many cultures and traditions, the number three represents balance, unity, and continuity; past, present, and future; mind, body, and spirit. It felt fitting for a work rooted in identity, community, and shared space.
The launch itself was genuinely amazing. Seeing so many people show up, engage with the work, and support the project meant more than I can put into words. I was completely unprepared for the number of people who attended, and deeply appreciative of every single person who came along.
Thank you always for the support, it truly means a lot. And for the launch to announce the beginning of Traveller Pride Week, very fitting!”
Funding for this work comes from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) through the Dormant Account Fund.
Traveller and Roma Students in Higher Education
For further details please contact: access@iadt.ie.