Visual Arts Special: Five Galleries Showcasing Work by Irish-based Artists

Green Gallery

Green Gallery OPened in 1995 and celebrating its 24th anniversary, the Green Gallery now houses a hugely impressive collection of art from Irish-based artists. With work ranging from realism through to landscape and abstract paintings, the gallery is optimally located at the top of St Stephen’s Green Centre, and is open seven days a week. Passionate about music as well as art, owner and director Dermot O’Grady has a number of paintings of music legends, including Rory Gallagher, Phil Lynott/Thin Lizzy and U2, by painters such as Mark Baker, Glenn Matthews and Jim Fitzpatrick. Moreover, the gallery holds a number of limited edition prints of David Bowie, captured by celebrated music photographer John Rowlands – who also photographed Elvis and Rod Stewart. Rowlands’ other much sought after prints are available by request. Especially for music aficiandos, the Green Gallery is among the best places to source unique and beautiful works of art.

Spotlight Piece: Jailbreak poster by Jim Fitzpatrick

IMMA

Ireland’s leading national institution for the collection and presentation of modern and contemporary art, the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) hosts a range of exhibitions, talks, screenings and workshops, which aim to connect audiences and the visual arts. At the heart of IMMA’s offer is a dynamic and changing programme of exhibitions from Irish and international artists, and complementary education and family programmes throughout the year. This year a central strand of their programming will focus on female artists with a punk sensibility, including the first Irish solo exhibition of Sonic Youth founder, Kim Gordon.

Spotlight Piece: Mary Swanzy, Voyages exhibit, running until February 17.

Duke Street Gallery

Just off Grafton Street, 17 Duke Street has been home to a number of artists, musicians, poets and writers over the years. Showcasing a range of different styles and trends in Irish painting, Duke Street is known for championing younger artists. It hosts an eclectic collection of paintings, from young and contemporary artists, to established and international practitioners, like Brian Palm. Often incorporating music into their events, the gallery is soon due to host Grammy award-winning Irish folk singer Susan McKeown, accompanied by collaborators Ger Kiely and Trevor Hutchinson, for a night of music and art. Meanwhile, their annual Bloomsday line-up fuses painting with film-making, music and writing in a celebration of James Joyce’s Dublin. Previous musicians to have played at the Gallery include Niall Toner, Lisa Hannigan and Mary Stokes, making Duke Street a hub of culture right in the heart of Dublin.

Spotlight Piece: Joby Hickey’s Russian Astronaut Alexey Leonov

Hugh Lane Gallery

Centred around the collection and vision of Hugh Lane himself, who held the first exhibition of Irish Art in London in 1904, the Hugh Lane Gallery is housed in the magnificent 18th century Charlemont Houseon Parnell Square. It has a history of being at the forefront of Irish art – it was the first gallery to house impressionist paintings in any public collection across Britain and Ireland, and has continued to push boundaries ever since. Notably, it houses Francis Bacon’s studio and archive – the first computerised archive of the entire contents of a world-ranking artist’s studio – comprised of books, photographs, canvases, materials and drawings. The gallery, which focuses on modern and contemporary art and excellence in Irish art practice, also has a room devoted to the great Irish abstract painter Sean Scully, in addition to one dedicated to stained glass.

Spotlight Piece: Sean Scully’s Landline Gray on view now

Temple Bar Gallery and Studios

A contemporary art gallery and artists’ studios complex located in Dublin City centre, Temple Bar Gallery and Studios is one of the city’s most important art spaces. In addition to year-round exhibitions, they also organise an acclaimed series of talks and events and an education outreach programme for schools. Their artists-in-residence programme includes an international exchange element, which gives Irish artists the opportunity to travel abroad, while also bringing fresh global influences to these shores. But, of course, it is the work that counts in the long run. Ronan McCrea’s Efference Copy Mechanism opens on 15 February and runs till 13 April.

Spotlight piece: by Ronan McCrea