Cúan Cusack also known as Culchie Spice is a community-engaged artist and designer. They create through the mediums of drawing, community organising, printmaking, writing, and sound. They focus on themes of solidarity and metamorphosis. Inspired by DIY culture, history and our relationship with nature. Cúan’s praxis is a vehicle for collective action. They are currently a master's student in NCAD studying Art and Social Action.
They are a key member of Alien Nation, a queer art events collective. A board member of The Walls Project, Ireland's largest street art festival and a member of the facilitator panel for Kids Own and Garter Lane. Their work has been exhibited nationally and internationally at IP12 Chania—Breaking the Patterns Exhibition, Waterford Gallery of Art—Bodies exhibition, Smock Alley Theatre—Pride in Print, Gallery of Modern Art Waterford—Poster project exhibition and Aegis performance. Cúan has been an artist in residence at Butler Gallery, Kilkenny and Garter Lane Arts Centre.
Education
Ba. Hons in Product Design, NCAD| May 2017
Professional Diploma in UX design, UCD (part-time) | March 2024
Training
Entrepreneurship for European Creative Industries | 2025
Climate Literacy Learning Waves | 2023
EDI Leadership Irish Centre for Diversity | 2023
Podcasting for Radio, Learning Waves | 2022
Documentary Photography, The Gallery of Photography | 2019
Community Organising
Pride of the Déise | 2021 - 2024
Chairperson (2023) @prideofthedeise
Led a 6-person team to realise a community festival, with over 1,000 attendees. Having raised €10,000 in funding. Design and printing of climate-friendly merchandise. using vintage and deadstock t-shirts sourced locally.
Facilitated community workshops to create installations and placards for the march and main stage.
Alien Nation aliennation.ie | 2022 - present
I am a founding member of this collective, which runs the popular bi-annual late-night arts event “Notions.”
I am responsible for building temporary art installations.
Engaging local and international artists and DJS.
The Walls Project | board member | 2024
The largest national and international street art festival in Ireland.
Key Works
Breaking the Patterns | January - April 2025
I was selected for a 3-month artistic residency in Chania. In association with Crete Cultural Organisation and Capacity Ireland. This involved working in the Municipal Gallery of Chania, a creative entrepreneurship course and a group exhibition in IP12 Greece.
Bodies | WGOA | December 2024
Digital and cyanotype prints purchased by Waterford Gallery of Art for the municipal collection. This includes 2 works from ‘Rememberings’, a project developed during my Butler Gallery residency.
Aegis | GOMA Waterford | October 2024
I created a sound and spoken word piece.
Building on my short story entitled ‘An Aegis of Thorns’. I created a performance piece with Natasha Everett from the Alien Nation Collective. Using sound, installation performance and spoken word to explore themes of nature and resistance. In response to Chloe Austin's exhibition Living but a Day: Texere at GOMA.
A zine I created to document this project is being displayed in Temple Bar Gallery & Studios at the Dublin Art Book Fair in November 2024. It will also be shown at the Lab gallery as part of the Magpie collection in December.
Artists Residency | Butler Gallery | June 2024
I began work on my project Rememberings, a collection of writings and drawings exploring queer memory and connection.
My fully booked stick and poke fruit workshop resulted in my being invited to facilitate the monthly queer art club at the gallery.
Pride in Print | Smock Alley Theatre | 2022
Queer Pep Talk Zine | Queer Zine Bibliotheque Sweden | 2020
NCAD | Graduate Exhibition | 2017
Work Experience
Freelance illustration & design | Various Clients | December 2019 - present
Key projects
Dublin Inquirer | June 2024
I illustrated the cover art for The Dublin Inquirer for their post-election issue.
Cervical screening promotion |September - October 2024
I worked with Sopie Mulcahy Simmons to co-design communications material with women to encourage uptake of cervical screening. This project was part of Sophie’s PHD research project in health promotion at UCD.
Promotional artwork for theatre | 2024
I have collaborated with writers, producers and theatre companies to create promotional art and programme designs for local and international theatre productions. Including Gas Ticket, Faggots & their friends between revolutions & Dress You Up.
Digital Producer | Beat 102103 | Profile
| September 2023 - March 2024
Coordinating digital ad campaigns, social media promotions, and digital strategy.
Solutions Assistant & Broadcasting Digital Producer | WLRFM & Beat 102103 | Profile
| December 2020 - September
Driving brand awareness through creating commercial web and social content.
Art director | BBDO Dublin
| January 2019- December 2019
I worked on TV, digital, social, outdoor and print campaigns. Winning a Gold and Silver at the APMC and IMC European Awards.
Social Media Content Creator | BBDO Dublin | May 2018-January 2019
Workshop Facilitation
Queer Art Club | November 2024 - present
I facilitate a monthly art club in Butler Gallery, Kilkenny, in collaboration with Ossory Youth.
Kid’s Own | 2024
Kids’ Own is Ireland’s only dedicated publisher of books by children. I work with them to facilitate workshops with young people to help them express their own stories through words and art.
SMILY | October 2024
Working with LGBTQIA+ young people to create zines to be exhibited in the Model Sligo.
Respond housing | August 2024
Co-facilitating workshops for 5- 10 year olds, recording their words and artworks. Culminating in a book about community called ‘Up The Hill Down The Hill’.
For the Love of Water | All Together Now festival | 2022
Co-facilitated a weekend of environmental art workshops with Ki Mc Bride for all ages. Creating art that empowered attendees to protect local waterways.
Zine Making Workshops | LINC & The Reclaim Project |The Rouge Gallery, Unit 44 | 2021, 2022
Queer Art Club | The Rouge Gallery | 2021 -2022
I ran a bi-weekly art club. Where I facilitated painting, drawing, animation, and printmaking workshops.