From ceramic art to cinematic history and plein air painting to photographic works and pets, there’s plenty to inspire. Plan a visit to one of these interesting art exhibitions …
Conor Fallon, Sketch of cat. Credit: © Estate of Conor Fallon and Nancy Wynne-Jones, Centre for the Study of Irish Art, National Gallery of Ireland
Tales from the Archive, The National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin 2
This new bilingual exhibition is one for animal lovers. It celebrates the rich, and often surprising, ways in which Irish artists have engaged with the animal world, depicting creatures as sources of joy, humour, companionship, inspiration and wonder. Pets, tiny creatures, and wild beasts emerge from the pages of sketchbooks and illustrated letters or are captured in watercolours and maquettes. With a particular focus on recent acquisitions, “Créatúir na Cartlainne | Tails from the Archive” features the work of Nancy Wynne-Jones, Conor Fallon, Bea Orpen, Daniel O’Neill, Anne Yeats, Oisín Kelly, Jack B Yeats and William Orpen. The exhibition is in Room 11 at the Gallery and runs until July 2026. www.nationalgallery.ie
Tour de Force, at various venues across Ireland
In this unique art project which runs from July 9 to August 23, visual artist Liliane Puthod and writer Ingrid Lyons embark on a national tour of Ireland in a 1962 Renault 4. Presenting 22 talks, events and live broadcasts across eleven counties, “tour de force” is a celebration of culture and creativity in the format of a mapped adventure. With pit stops ranging from a ranch in Co Laois to a vintage car show in Co Galway, the project engages with artists, musicians, mechanics, farmers, writers, archaeologists, craftspeople, and academics from all across Ireland. This follows on from Ingrid and Liliane’s pilot tour last year, during which they live streamed their journey in the Renault 4 as they drove across rural France, and their journey driving up through Ireland. This second voyage includes a series of mise-en-abyme, where stories are embedded in one another. En route, the car becomes a mobile broadcasting unit. Live streaming tour de force’s visual and sonic journey on Twitch, K7 dans la 4L hosts a series of artist talks, readings and interviews, and the playing of cassette tapes on a Renault Blaupunkt Audio 3000. K7 dans la 4L starts every episode with a commissioned jingle by musician Paddy Critchley and the band Croí Óg covering On The One Road by The Wolfe Tones. The song is a shout-out to all workers at the Renault Factory plant in Wexford Town, who used to whistle this song as they assembled CKD (flat-packed) Renault 4s. www.tourdeforce.club
Stay Forever More, Patryk Gizicki, Outset Gallery, Galway
Launching on July 12 as part of Galway International Arts Festival 2025, “Stay Forever More” is a semi-fictional, reflective photographic series by Patryk Gizicki exploring themes of home, belonging, and coming of age. Drawing on personal experience, the work reconstructs Gizicki’s memories of childhood and adolescence growing up in Castlebar, Co Mayo through an installation of images that evoke feelings of transition and in-between states. Gizicki is a Dublin-based visual artist and photographer whose work explores identity, migration, and belonging, shaped by his Polish heritage and upbringing in the west of Ireland. The launch event will also coincide with Outset Gallery’s third anniversary, during which there will be a full day of celebrations including music from Blue Detroit. Tickets are free but bookable in advance via www.eventbrite.ie.
Clay/Works 2025, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin 9
This exhibition features the work of over 80 makers from all over Ireland and is one for those who enjoy the diversity of ceramic art. Included are pieces by contemporary artists such as Noel Donnellan and Katharina Treml reflecting the contemporary relevance of ceramic art in the art world. The exhibition runs until July 21 and the gallery is open daily from 10am to 5pm. www.heritageireland.ie
From Dickie to Richard – Richard Harris: Role of a Lifetime, The Hunt Museum, Limerick
Cinephiles who admire the work of Richard Harris should make haste to The Hunt Museum’s tribute to the actor who left an indelible mark on film, theatre and Irish cultural life. A must see too is The Ghost of Richard Harris, a poignant film portrait of the Limerick-born star and a great complement to the exhibition which features Harris’ journey from a young boy in Limerick and Kilkee to an international acting legend, through a collection of artefacts, film memorabilia, photographs, and immersive displays. www.huntmuseum.com
Reflecting the Real, Photo Museum Ireland, Dublin 2
This compelling new exhibition is the outcome of Photo Museum Ireland’s inaugural International Open Awards. Selected from over 700 worldwide submissions, the works of five artists will be featured. The chosen artists are Deb Choudhuri, Ciaran Dunbar, Emilia Martin, Dimitri Stefanov and Laure d’Utruy. All present thought provoking photography and authenticity. The exhibition is on until August 24. www.photomuseumireland.ie
Gerard Byrne, Hamptons Fine Art Fair 2025
Further afield … If you happen to be holidaying in the Hamptons this week, pop in to have a browse at the Hamptons Fine Art Fair which runs from July 10 to 13 in the Pollock Pavilion, Southampton. This prestigious event attracts an elite audience of collectors and curators – among the artists presenting their work will be Irish plein air painter Gerard Byrne. He is showing works inspired by a visit to New York last autumn which capture the architecture that defines the historic districts of Lower Manhattan. In addition he will be showing his latest large-scale figurative works, a still life and a seascape. His Modern Impressionistic work has been compared to that of Edward Hopper and Claude Monet, especially his emotive use of light and nuanced atmosphere. Gerard will also be leading a live painting demonstration at the fair on Sunday July 13, offering attendees an opportunity to witness his creative process in real time. www.gerardbyrneartist.com
An Art Summer School, Cork
Should you wish to learn more about the history of Irish art, sign up for a new summer school during National Heritage Week from August 18 to 21. Led by art historian Dr Matthew Whyte and Sample-Studios, the summer school takes place in the beautiful surrounds of UCC Campus, in the Boole Library Creative Zone. Lectures are held from 10.30am to 12.30pm each day, beginning in the early monasteries which produced the Book of Kells and Ireland’s famous Sheela-na-Gig sculptures, and taking a journey through the Age of Enlightenment with the establishment of the Cork School of Art to the modern artists who envisioned the formation of the Free State in the 20th century, finishing with a discussion of contemporary art in Ireland. For the full schedule of lectures and site visits and to book tickets visit the website. All proceeds from this summer school will go to Sample-Studios, a registered charity and non-profit organisation devoted to supporting and sustaining the careers of emerging and established artists in Cork and beyond. www.sample-studios.com
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