Kim Mawhinney is an experienced art curator with over 25 years of experience in the field. She is responsible for the Applied Art collections, including specialist areas of ceramics, glass and furniture.
About Kim
Kim has made it her mission to challenge the public's perception of art's role in our everyday lives. According to Kim, art surrounds us all and has become more important than ever in a post-conflict society, where it helps us understand our past, examine our present, and confront our future.
Kim's passion for museums was sparked during a visit to the Ulster Museum at the tender age of nine, which ultimately led her to pursue a career as a curator. After obtaining a BA (Hons) Combined Studies in Art and Design and a Master of Philosophy on the history of museum collections, Kim began her journey with the Ulster Museum by volunteering, before being appointed Curator of Applied Art in 1995. Kim's commitment to professional development led her to complete the Museums, Libraries & Archives (MLA), UK; Leading Archives and Museums: Senior Managers Programme - Challenges of leadership in 2008. She has held a senior management role in the Art Department since 2009. Kim was a member of the Project Board for the redevelopment of the Ulster Museum, which reopened in October 2009 and won the Art Fund prize in 2010.
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Kim Mawhinney at the Art of the Troubles exhibition.
Growing up in North Belfast during the Troubles, Kim's personal experiences and involvement with art and its legacy in the conflict have led her to be invited to take part in international debates on post-conflict communities. She has collaborated with organizations such as the WAVE Trauma Centre, the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building, the Victims and Survivors Forum, and Healing Through Remembering. In addition, she has given papers at national and international conferences on Troubles Art and exhibitions such as Colin Davidson: Silent Testimony.
Kim advocates that museums exist for everyone.
Kim's passion for museums, art, and culture extends beyond her work at the museum. She enjoys traveling, often combining it with her love of food. Her fascination with the history of food has led her to collect over 160 books on the subject, making it an integral part of her life outside of the museum.
Exhibitions
Throughout her career, Kim has curated, project managed and selected exhibitions. Her recent work includes national and international touring exhibitions such as Colin Davidson: Silent Testimony, Art of the Troubles, Troubles Art, andA False Dawn: Ursula Burke.
Kim has also served on selection panels for numerous exhibitions, including the BP Portrait Award 2015 and Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition, 2011-2019. In collaboration with national partners, Kim has brought touring exhibitions to the Ulster Museum, including Weeping Window: Poppies(14-18 NOW), The Queen: Art and Image from the National Portrait Gallery, London, Revealed: Government Art Collection, The Art of Selling Songs and Street Art from the V&A, Wicked Wit and Costume Parisiens from the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, and Things Left Unsaid: Paul Seawright from Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris.
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Weeping Window: Poppies(14-18 NOW)
Collaborations
Kim's expertise in building relationships with national and international partners has been instrumental in bringing important exhibitions to the Ulster Museum. Her partnership with 14-18 NOW, the National Portrait Gallery, the Courtauld Gallery, the National Gallery, Victoria & Albert Museum, British Museum, Tate Gallery, Centre Culturel Irlandais (Paris), McMullan Museum of Art (Boston College), National Gallery of Ireland (Dublin), Irish Museum of Modern Art (Dublin), Chester Beatty Library (Dublin) and The Hunt Museum (Limerick) has resulted in numerous successful exhibitions.
Kim has served as external examiner for two international PhD students for the Ulster University (2019-2020). From 2007-12 Kim was external examiner for the National College of Art & Design in Dublin for both BA Honours and MA degrees, including a tutor to several MA students. Kim has also lectured on Museum Careers and Curation for the Ulster University. She also actively mentors artists, curators and academics.
Current
Member of the Board of Directors of the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Annaghmakerrig, Co Monaghan
Member of the Board of Directors of Craft NI
Member of the UK Museums Association
Member of the Irish Museums Association
Member of the British Art Network
Member of the SSN Contemporary Studio Ceramics
Member of the SSN Understanding British Portraits
Historical
Chair of the National Student Awards (2012-15) for the Royal Dublin Society.
Member of the Main Board for Art and Architecture Ireland
Vice Chair & Editor of Journal, Glass Society of Ireland 1995-2006
Vice Chair, Editor of Journal, Founding Member, Decorative and Fine Art Society in Ulster 1996-2002
Kim has contributed to national and international publications including;
Museum Ireland
The Encyclopaedia of Ireland
The Oxford Companion to Irish History
The Curator’s Handbook
The Irish Arts Review
Neues Glass
Ceramics Ireland
Kim's latest publication, Troubles Art from the Ulster Museum Collection, was launched in April 2023 and can be purchased from the Ulster Museum's gift shop.
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The British Glass Biennale 2008
Marks of Distinction on the Ulster Museum, Belleek Pottery Collection
Past Glazing, Future Gazing: the Ceramic World of Peter Meanley
