Peer

Curated by Dr. Margarita Cappock

This exhibition will be launched by Dylan Bradshaw, Ireland’s top hairstylist. 

Peer’ weaves together key aspects of Amanda Jane Graham’s life: visual art, sociology, and her twenty-four years as a hairstylist. Graham applies sociological analysis to her experiences and investigates the intertwined histories of art and hairdressing. She presents her findings through distinctive, detailed artworks. These reveal the rich, fascinating, and largely unknown history of the hairdressing profession and the discrimination that hairdressers experienced from the Renaissance to the present day where artistic recognition for their work was frequently denied. The title ‘Peer’ references the quest for recognition from the Parisian hairstylists of the 18th century who campaigned through the French courts for artistic recognition and the title of colleague or peer for their work in the arts which culminated in the publication of a hairdressing manifesto in 1768.  In post-revolutionary Britain, bias against hairdressing as a career choice intensified, creating what scholars call an inherited narrative.

Building on this research, Graham’s creative approach encompasses drawings, sculpture, and sound installations. Through this work, she invites a re-evaluation of historical art from a hairstylist’s perspective, affirming centuries of collaboration. In hairdressing, the mirror is considered a stylist’s third eye: standing behind a client, the stylist looks them directly in the eye. Similarly, Graham’s artwork becomes her third eye as she enters into direct conversation with the viewer, asking them to observe the often-overlooked expertise in historical art. By using familiar salon equipment, techniques, and hairdressing methodologies as titles, she underscores hair's materiality, texture, and tactility. This shift in focus from fashion to form highlights hairstylists' significant contributions to art history. Through her artworks, Graham places the hairdressing profession directly within the frame of historical portraiture.

About the artist
Graham’s most recent solo exhibitions include the Whitaker Museum (UK, 2026), the Leitrim Sculpture Centre and the Royal Dublin Convention Centre (2024), Birr Castle and the Irish Architectural Archive (2023), Dock Arts Centre (2019), and the RHA in Dublin (2017). In 2025, her exhibition The Coiffured received support from Culture Ireland. She was awarded a Leitrim Art Award in 2023 and was also a finalist for the Sir John Soane Drawing Office Residency and the Business to Arts Best Creativity in the Workplace Award. Other awards include the Creative Ireland Creative Communities Economic Action Fund (2022), the Platform 31 Bursary (2021), the Spark Residency Award, the Arts Council of Ireland Bursary, and the Agility Award. Her work has been featured in RTÉ Arena, RTÉ Brainstorm, RTÉ Culture, News Talk’s Talking History, and the Irish Times.

About the guest speaker 
A strong presence in the fashion world, Dylan’s career spans over 30 years. His signature approach to hairdressing has led him & his salon to receive over 50 Awards & accolades, including Winner Creative Head Magazine MOST WANTED Awards 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 Exceptional Stylist, London – joining the Hall of Fame with top industry names like Sam Mc Knight and Errol Douglas MBE Winner, Winner Creative Head Magazine MOST Wanted Awards 2024 Best New Salon (revamped space), L’Oréal Professionnel International Style & Colour Trophy 2016, Lisbon, Portugal Winner Creative Head Magazine MOST WANTED Awards 2016 & 2017, Exceptional Stylist, London Winner L’Oréal Professionnel Colour Trophy Ireland 2016, Dublin

Dylan works from his 10,000 square foot store in Dublin’s creative quarter of South William Street, and he is regularly requested for magazine editorials, fashion shows and industry advertisements which have graced the pages of international titles such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire and Rolling Stone Magazine.

As a true innovator within the Irish hairdressing movement Dylan is constantly evolving and loves to work with likeminded teams who are always looking for ways to lead in the industry. He currently acts as a Global Ambassador for DYSON hair working with and developing game changing technology as well as a Global Ambassador for L’Oréal Professionnel. 

Dylan surrounds himself with great talent and has grown the team to what it is today through creating a strong education and development programme. He understands the key to a successful salon is consistent training and it is vital to provide the best theoretical and practical knowledge from junior to senior level in this ever-changing industry.