Ireland’s largest and longest-running showcase of visual art …
Now in its 196th year, the RHA Annual Exhibition supports both emerging and established artists, providing a significant platform for visibility, recognition and sales. It also offers an exceptional opportunity for first-time buyers and seasoned collectors alike to add to their collections.
‘In Winter’ by Martin Gale.
The exhibition brings together Academy Members, invited artists and those selected through the highly competitive open submission process. This year, 4,890 artworks were submitted, with 435 works selected following two rigorous rounds of judging. The final exhibition spans all gallery spaces and includes works by Shane Keisuke Berkery, Erin Lawlor, Paul McKinley, Aideen Barry RHA, Dorothy Cross RHA, Donald Teskey RHA, Andrew Folan RHA, Martin Gale RHA, Eilis O’Connell RHA, Una Sealy RHA, Sinéad Ní Mhaonaigh PRHA and Mick O’Dea PPRHA, among many others.
‘Lala’ by Oliver Murphy.
In tandem with the exhibition, the coveted RHA awards celebrate excellence across contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, drawing and emerging practice, with more than €42,500 in prize funding awarded this year.
Robert Ballagh was awarded The 2026 RHA Gold Medal in recognition of his extraordinary artistic career and advocacy on behalf of Irish artists. Ballagh played a pivotal role in securing resale rights legislation for Irish visual artists and has remained one of the country’s most influential cultural figures for over five decades.
‘My Place III’ by Dorothy Smith.
Among the major award recipients announced were: Alana Barton, winner of the ESB Keating Award and Silver Medal for her work Lull; Cheryl Brown, recipient of the ESB Moran Award for Outstanding Sculpture for Irish Goat; Niamh O’Malley, awarded the Solomon Fine Art Award for Sculpture for Held, arrangement (2); John Behan, recipient of the Morgan O’Driscoll Sculpture Award for The Morrigan; Geraldine O’Neill, winner of the McCann FitzGerald Portraiture Award for Alltar; Dominic Turner, winner of the Progressive Vision Curtin O’Donoghue Photography Award for Never Alone and Niamh Swanton, recipient of the Emerging Photographic Artist Award for The Desire to Strive for a Better Place.
‘Mission Creep’ by Niall MacCrann.
Five artists were also shortlisted for the prestigious Hennessy Craig / Homan Potterton Awards for painters under the age of 35, which together carry a future prize value of €40,000. The shortlisted artists are Sian Costello, Ivica Purgar, Tom McLean, Alana Barton and Ben McCabe.
‘Winter Levels’ by James English.
Other notable award recipients include Doreen Kilfeather, Eoin Mac Lochlainn, Dorothy Smith, Felicity Clear and Melissa O’Donnell, reflecting the breadth of practice and generations represented in this year’s exhibition.
