Dublin Gallery Weekend is back for its second year – stronger and sleeker, yet retaining successful elements from its inaugural edition, such as free tours of contemporary galleries on both sides of the Liffey. This ambitious international program runs from Thursday, November 7th to Sunday, November 10th, featuring eleven participating galleries from the Contemporary Art Gallery Association (CAGA). With many exciting events planned, this year’s initiative aims to please both seasoned art enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
Irish actor and art lover, Adrian Dunbar, is on board this year as Dublin Gallery Weekend’s 2024 ambassador. Speaking at the press launch in the Merrion Hotel, he spoke to the gathered crowd about growing up in Enniskillen in the 1970s and how the art world wasn’t readily available to him, so he sought it out himself. Describing himself “as someone who has been mooching around the Dublin arts scene for many years, I’m also very aware of many exciting things happening across Europe at the moment, and it’s been fabulous to watch a scene develop in Dublin to rival that.”
The message that art should be accessible to everyone is one that CAGA and the event itself are keen to promote. This commitment to accessibility is evident in the program, with all gallery owners reiterating that tours of their galleries are free and that their doors are always open. The inclusion of interactive talks and child-friendly events in this year’s schedule underscores this theme of democratising the arts, while for the first time, a central exhibition allows visitors to see artworks from all eleven CAGA galleries in one place (IPUT’s Wilton Park). Titled Kites Over the Castles, the central exhibition is curated by Patrick Murphy, director of the Royal Hibernian Academy, and will run from November 7th – 21st.
As well as highlighting accessibility, the event positions the Dublin art scene as part of a global art network – reflected by the international standard of work on display. The acclaimed French-Turkish artist Nil Yalter – winner of a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at this year’s Venice Biennale – is showing at Green on Red Gallery, hot on the heels of showcases at Frieze London and Art Basel Paris; she will appear in conversation with legendary Irish art historian and curator Dr Catherine Marshall. The ‘YBA’ Keith Coventry will give attendees a personal walk-through of his new exhibition, gathering 32 years of works on paper at The Horse Gallery, a new addition to the line-up this year.
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Dublin Gallery Weekend also includes Irish artists with growing international reputations, including Justin Fitzpatrick, a young Dublin-born artist with recent exhibitions in London, Paris and New York, who’ll present his first ever Irish homecoming at Kerlin Gallery. He’ll discuss his art nouveau-inspired paintings with Thomas Conchou, curator of his recent institutional solo exhibition in France. In another flagship event, Sean Rainbird, former National Gallery of Ireland director, will return to lead a day-long conference focused on the potential of the Irish visual arts sector. This follows the success of last year’s event, which drew national and international attention.
One of Ireland’s most celebrated living sculptors, John Behan, will present new bronze work at Solomon Gallery on Balfe Street over the weekend. Gallery owner Tara Murphy, who celebrates 30 years at the gallery this year, is delighted to be part of this initiative and thrilled to share Behan’s work and life through talks and the exhibition in her gallery. “On the final evening of Dublin Gallery Weekend, we’ll screen Odyssey, a feature-length film directed by esteemed Irish director Donald Taylor Black, which follows John’s career and his involvement with migrant camps in Greece. This screening will be shown at Solomon Gallery to 70 guests,” Tara says. Behan is known for his remarkable public sculptures, including the vast National Famine Memorial in Co Mayo and Arrival, which is located at the United Nations building in New York.
If you plan to visit all galleries over the weekend, next on your list should be Oliver Sears Gallery, who introduces Jason Ellis with Monkey Gone to Heaven, an exhibition that tackles environmental concerns with an inventive use of materials. Ellis’ work explores the human relationship with nature, adding an eco-conscious layer to the gallery’s weekend programme.
Jessica Taylor from Taylor Galleries on Kildare Street speaks of her enthusiasm for the 2024 schedule: “Dublin Gallery Weekend 2024 will deliver a much more ambitious schedule than its inaugural year. At Taylor Galleries, we’ve tripled our line-up, offering a host of events to choose from. All participating galleries have significantly elevated their offerings, building on the enthusiasm we saw last year. A notable addition this year is the off-site exhibition space generously provided – [as part of IPUT Real Estate’s sponsorship of Dublin Gallery Weekend 2024] – in their newly developed Wilton Park building. This venue will showcase artworks from all eleven participating galleries under one roof. We’re delighted to have Charles Tyrrell and Martin Gale representing us at this collaborative show.”
Regarding Taylor Galleries specifically, she adds: “We’ve also secured renowned art historian Jessica Fahy, who will deliver two insightful talks about our legacy artists, including Micheal Farrell, Camille Souter, Louis le Brocquy, and Patrick Scott.” Talking about the importance of family-friendly events woven throughout the schedule, Jessica says: “Family-friendly events, like artist talks and guided tours, play a crucial role in making contemporary art more accessible to a broader audience. My own childhood was full of trips around Ireland to visit artists’ studios. I have particularly fond memories of meeting Sean McSweeney and his family in their home in Sligo and Brian Bourke and his wife Jay Murphy in Galway. I suppose this exposure shaped my understanding of art in an organic way, and I believe that providing children and families with opportunities to engage with art from an early age can have a lasting impact.”
Moving on from Taylor Galleries, the Molesworth Gallery will launch Cian McLoughlin’s solo exhibition Zero is an Even Number. Known for his expressive abstraction, McLoughlin explores themes of memory and perception in his latest works. At So Fine Art Editions, Tom Phelan debuts Arriving, which delves into themes of transition and self-reflection. Phelan’s work is known for its contemplative quality, making this a must-see for those drawn to introspective art. Kevin Kavanagh Gallery will feature the Book Fair, celebrating the gallery’s history of artist publications. Alongside this, Nevan Lahart’s new work will be on display, continuing the artist’s renowned exploration of cultural and political satire.
Moving Northside to Hillsboro Fine Art on Parnell Square, proprietor John Daly, who also serves as chair of CAGA, shares his excitement about the specific artists and highlights he is looking forward to showcasing over the weekend. “STILL,” Eithne Jordan’s first solo exhibition at the gallery, will open on Friday, November 8th, featuring a lecture on her work by renowned art historian Dr Margarita Cappock. Eithne, the sister of film-maker Neil Jordan, is a painter of international renown, regularly exhibiting in France, Italy, the USA, and of course Ireland – having recently held important solo exhibitions at the Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin and the Crawford Gallery in Cork.
Nearby at Olivier Cornet Gallery, renowned botanical artist Yanny Petters will present her exhibition Field Work with Mainie and Albrecht. This is a celebration of Ireland’s diverse landscapes and the artists who have inspired her. In addition, art historian Jean Ryan will lead a discussion on the role of craft in contemporary practices with Petters, Annika Berglund, and Hugh Cummins.
With 12 exhibitions and 43 events programmed to take place over the weekend, Dublin Gallery Weekend offers a fresh way to explore Ireland’s contemporary art scene. There are opportunities to learn, with an array of talks by artists, curators and art historians, as well as live demonstrations revealing how artists work, from Nature Printmaking (Yanny Petters) and monoprinting (Tom Phelan) to stone carving (Jason Ellis), while opportunities abound to enjoy exhibitions in more informal, sociable settings – over coffee and cake (Taylor Galleries), or with drinks receptions at one of the Friday evening’s many launch events.
Whether you attended last year’s inaugural event and are eager to return in 2024, or you’re discovering a new opportunity to explore Ireland’s contemporary art scene, Dublin Gallery Weekend offers a fresh experience. As Murphy points out, “People visit art museums and galleries when travelling to cities like Munich, Provence, or Barcelona. Yet here we are, with several vibrant and free galleries spread across both sides of the city, and many locals aren’t taking full advantage of this availability.” With Irish artists and their galleries achieving success and acclaim internationally – just this year, the participating galleries have presented at art fairs in London, Paris, Rotterdam, Basel, Shanghai, and Singapore – Dublin Gallery Weekend is an opportunity for Irish audiences to see for themselves the breadth and depth of talent presented by our contemporary art galleries.
Full details of the schedule can be found here