Ryan Kearney

Ryan Kearney is a curator, writer and researcher based in the Midlands. His on-going research centres on queer night-time space, with a focus on gentrification, memory and cross-generational exchange.

As Assistant Curator at Nottingham Contemporary, he assists the research and production of discursive events including talks, screenings and performances. He was co-curator at Recent Activity from 2017-19 and has delivered projects at Birmingham Hippodrome; Galerija Vartai; Parafin; Block Universe; and Grand Union. Ryan’s writing features in Frieze and this is tomorrow.

He studied at University of the Arts London, University of Birmingham and participated in Curatorial Curriculum, Grand Union’s alternative education programme. Ryan is a member of Tate and Paul Mellon Centre’s Emerging Curator Group, 2020-21.

Education

Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL
PhD Candidate
2021 - 2025

University of Birmingham
MA Art History and Curating
2017 - 2018

Grand Union
Curatorial Curriculum
May - Oct 2018

University of the Arts London
BA (Hons) Photography
2013 - 2016

Experience

Nottingham Contemporary
Assistant Curator
Sep 2019 - Sep 2020

The Contemporary Journal
Editorial Assistant
Sep 2019 - Sep 2020

Recent Activity
Co-curator
Apr 2017 - Oct 2019

Indrė Šerpytytė
Studio Assistant
Nov 2018 - Sep 2019

Parafin
Gallery Coordinator
Aug 2018 - Sep 2019

Argentea Gallery
Gallery Assistant
Dec 2017 - Aug 2018

Awards

UCL
Barlett Promise Scholarship
2021

School of Social Entrepeneurs
Start Up Grant
2021

Tate & British Art Network
Emerging Curators Group Bursary
2020

a-n
a-n Mentoring Bursary
2019

New Art West Midlands
Engine Bursary
2018

Art Fund
Navigating the Art Market
2018

Talks

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Feb 2020

Barber Institute of Fine Art
Feb 2019

Camberwell College of Art
Jan 2018

RYAN KEARNEY is a curator, writer and researcher based in the Midlands.