Irish Art Now – Exhibition showcasing Irish visual artists in London

Irish Art Now is an exhibition running at the the Embassy of Ireland in London to celebrate established and emerging Irish visual artists who have made London their creative home. It showcases a diverse array of works in sculpture, painting, and printmaking and captures the richness of Irish artistic talent and its distinctive presence within the UK’s cultural scene.

Ambassador Martin Fraser said, “As Ambassador of Ireland in London, I am proud to host this landmark exhibition of established and emerging Irish artists here at the Embassy. We are fortunate to have an important and exciting visual art scene in Ireland, and so many of our talented visual artists that have called London home over the years. There is significant and vital cultural engagement and exchange between the British and Irish art worlds, a testament to the strong cultural ties between these islands. I look forward to the dialogue that this exhibition sparks about Irish Art, and warmly welcome our guests to the Embassy.”

Curated by Joe Duggan and Orla Jackson, the exhibition focuses on uplifting the great work of Irish artists in London. Some of the featured artists include Oisín Byrne, Aislinn Finnegan, Emmet Kierans, Richard Malone, Kerri McEvoy, Laura Ní Fhlaibhín, Eve O’Callaghan, Hazel O’Sullivan, Yuri Pattison, Kathy Prendergast, Eva Rothschild, Anne Ryan, Orla Jackson, and Joe Duggan.

The exhibition is curated by Joe Duggan and Orla Jackson, independent artists from Ireland who live and work in London.

Joe Duggan is a Limerick born artist living and working in Buckinghamshire. He studied at the Royal College of Art London gaining an M.A. in Fine Art (Photography). His artistic practice includes sculpture, photography, video, publishing and installation.

Through these various media, his work considers ideas of value and identity. Focusing on themes of the family, the artist’s role in society and the influence of hierarchical systems, including religion, on culture. Across his projects, Duggan’s work is inflected with a wry wit and a playful DIY aesthetic in which he conveys deeper lying concerns. He also curates and produces exhibitions.

Orla Jackson is a visual artist from County Limerick who currently lives and works in Central London.

The inescapable rituals and colours of the West of Ireland are woven into her work. Traces of her cultural and social past are present, delving often into the wider notions of belonging, the complexity of diaspora and the emotional weight of displacement. Melancholia in tandem with rhythmic movement are presented using repeated lines and geometric forms.

Orla completed her Masters in Printmaking at the Royal College of Art in 2023. She also curates and produces exhibitions.

This exhibition will run from 7 - 28 January 2025, and will be open to the public during day and evening timeslots, which can be reserved in the New Year via our Eventbrite page:

On Tuesday 21 January, the Embassy will also host a panel discussion with distinguished guest speakers who will explore the theme of Irish art today. This discussion aims to examine evolving narratives, address challenges, and provoke thought on the current and future role of Irish art within the UK cultural landscape.

The speakers include Dr Fionna Barber (Reader in Art History in the Manchester School of Art and Doctoral Lead for Art and Performance), Emma Goltz (The current Chair of Studio Voltaire, former board member of IMMA, and a collector of Irish art), Mark O’Gorman (Curator and Producer of Visual Arts at The Complex in Dublin) and Helen Carey (Director of the Fire Station Artists’ Studio Dublin, Independent Curator and member of the Culture Ireland Expert Advisory Committee).

The exhibition is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland. The exhibition catalogue is sponsored by The Doyle Collection.