BIO

CALLAGHAN CAVANAUGH is a multidisciplinary artist. She recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Studio Art from Creighton University in Omaha, NE, where she grew up. Callaghan has spent time living and working on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, and has interned for two affordable housing developers in Omaha. During her time at Creighton, Callaghan participated in the Scheerer Scholars program, which inspired her to react to her experiences in politics and urban development within her art practice.

She works in printmaking, painting, and ceramics to explore systems of power, community, queerness, angst, and the midwest. Through self-aware nostalgia and punk aesthetics, Cavanaugh hopes people see themselves in her work. In her practice, she prioritizes play, whimsy, and, above all, community building.

ARTIST STATEMENT

My practice is my space to represent how I see the world. I work in printmaking, ceramics, and oil paint to visually construct a world that memorializes and builds upon the midwestern, queer, political, and pop culture experiences that shape me. I weave together the things that infuriate and inspire me into an aesthetic language that brings me joy and communicates how I feel in the world. Nostalgia is a driving force in my work, and my practice allows me to hold moments close and keep them alive. I am energized when people identify with these moments in my art.

We all just want to be seen and heard, I think.

Whether I am sharing techniques through creative workshops, putting together exhibitions, or passionately explaining the genius behind a song or painting I really love, I always prioritize accessibility. I believe creativity, like most things, thrives in connection, and art should feel approachable rather than distant or exclusive.

EXHIBTIONS

POINTS OF CONTACT: Scheerer Fellows Senior Exhibition, BFF Gallery | Duo Exhibition | BFF Gallery | Omaha, NE | April 2025 

Reflections and Refractions | Juried Exhibition - Second Place Award | Hot Shops Art Center | Omaha, NE | March 2025

Echoes of Tomorrow | Touchstone Gallery | Washington, DC | February 2025

Uncovered | Hot Shops Art Center |Omaha, NE | Spring 2023