Matthew Gammon, a visual artist and artist director on the board of the Graphic Studio Dublin, selects his top five exhibitions …
Generation: NEW IRISH PAINTING, Butler Gallery, Kilkenny. “My intention when curating this exhibition was not to mount a survey of painting but to reflect a personal observation of the quality of painting I saw happening around the country,” explains Anna O’Sullivan, director of Butler Gallery. The diversity of approach ranges from abstract to figurative works as well as installations. Each explores the passions, issues and concerns of the individual artists. The exhibition runs until July 10; www.butlergallery.ie.
Colin Davidson: SELECTED PAINTINGS 1986-2022, The F E McWilliam Gallery, Banbridge, Co Down. While Davidson is renowned for his portraiture, until 2010 he was best known for cityscapes and has also painted nudes and still life. Recently there have been explorations into three dimensions. This exhibition explores the connections between Davidson’s art and provides an opportunity to appreciate the consistency and quality of his practice through the decades. From June 11- September 10; www.visitarmagh.com.
192ND RHA ANNUAL EXHIBITION, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin 2. Ireland’s largest and longest-running exhibition of visual art returns to its regular summer slot. A total of 4,038 works of art were submitted for this year’s exhibition, from which, following two rigorous rounds of selection, 378 works were accepted, and these will be exhibited throughout all gallery spaces alongside works by RHA Academy members and invited artists. The exhibition can be viewed on-site and online until July 24; www.rhagallery.ie.
Norman Ackroyd: PAINTING WITH ACID (Works from Ireland 1985-2021), Ballinglen Arts Foundation, Ballycastle, Co Mayo. This compelling exhibition is a celebration of the Irish work of international master printmaker, Norman Ackroyd CBE RA. The exhibition features prints accompanied by related watercolours, sketchbook drawings, proofs and plates. Ackroyd’s latest publication, An Irish Notebook – a collection of 40 sketches – celebrates the western coast in all its rugged beauty. The exhibition runs until August 31; www.ballinglenartsfoundation.org.
ULYSSES CENTENARY CELEBRATION EXHIBITION, Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin 2. To celebrate the centenary of James Joyce’s Ulysses, Graphic Studio Dublin has invited 18 visual artists to make an original print, responding to the 18 episodes in the book. The final works are accompanied by a commissioned text by Nuala O’Connor, author of this year’s One City, One Book for Dublin, Nora. The exhibition is co-curated by Anne Hodge, of the National Gallery of Ireland, along with Peter Brennan and Mateja Smic of Graphic Studio Gallery. From June 11-23 July; www.graphicstudiodublin.com.
Main featured image via Rianna&Nina.