Rita Duffy is one of Ireland’s ground-breaking socially engaged visual artists and a visiting lecturer at international universities, advocating for the arts with contributions to numerous publications and media engagements. She was made an Honorary Member of the Royal Society of Architects for developmental work in the built environment, and an associate at the Goldsmiths College London, collaborating on artistic exchange with Argentina and Chile looking at the role of art in post conflict societies. Duffy’s work is held in museum and private collections worldwide and her public art projects continue to grow in scale and ambition. In 2018 she was recognised for her contribution to visual arts in Ireland and elected to Aosdana, Ireland's elected "people of the arts".

Charlotte Maxeke-Mary Robinson Research Chair, Centre for Humanities Research, University of the Western Cape