RHA Annual Exhibition Continues in Dublin with Guided Art Tour as Irish Visual Arts Season Peaks
The Royal Hibernian Academy's 196th Annual Exhibition is in full swing at the Gallagher Gallery on Ely Place in Dublin, with a special guided Art Form Tour focused on painting — led by artist Una Sealy RHA — having drawn a strong audience on Tuesday, 10 June, as the exhibition enters the heart of its summer run and the Irish visual arts season reaches its annual peak.
Background
The Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition is one of the oldest and most significant events in the Irish cultural calendar. Established in 1823, the RHA is an artist-led institution that has been at the centre of Irish visual arts life for two centuries, and its annual exhibition — which accepts submissions from any artist, regardless of whether they are an RHA member — is the largest open-submission visual arts show in Ireland and one of the most significant in these islands.
The exhibition's longevity is a testament to its ability to adapt and evolve while maintaining its core commitment to showcasing the full range of Irish visual arts practice. Over the years, it has featured work by virtually every significant Irish artist, from Jack B. Yeats and Mainie Jellett in the early twentieth century to contemporary practitioners working across a wide range of media and styles. The open-submission format means that the exhibition is genuinely democratic — any artist can submit work, and the selection process is designed to ensure that the show reflects the breadth and diversity of Irish visual arts practice rather than the preferences of a small curatorial committee.
The Gallagher Gallery on Ely Place, which has been the RHA's home since the 1970s, provides a series of interconnected gallery spaces that are well-suited to the scale and variety of the annual exhibition. The building, which was designed by Raymond McGrath, has a distinctive character that complements the work on display, and its location in the heart of Dublin's south inner city makes it easily accessible to visitors from across the city and beyond.
Key Developments
The 196th Annual Exhibition, which opened in late May and runs until 9 August, features a diverse mix of painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography and architectural models from artists at all stages of their careers. The selection committee has assembled a show that reflects the current state of Irish visual arts practice, with a strong representation of both established names and emerging talent.
The Art Form Tour led by Una Sealy RHA on 10 June was one of a series of guided events designed to help visitors engage more deeply with the work on display. Sealy, who is one of Ireland's most respected painters, led participants through the exhibition's painting section, discussing the techniques, materials and ideas that inform the work on display and providing insights into her own practice as a painter. The tour was fully booked, reflecting the strong public interest in the exhibition and in the kind of artist-led engagement that the RHA has been developing in recent years.
Admission to the exhibition is free, which is a significant factor in its accessibility. The RHA's commitment to free admission reflects its belief that visual arts should be available to everyone, regardless of their financial means, and it has contributed to the exhibition's consistently strong attendance figures.
Why It Matters
The RHA Annual Exhibition matters because it is one of the few occasions in the Irish cultural calendar when the full range of Irish visual arts practice is brought together in a single, accessible venue. The open-submission format means that the show is genuinely representative of what Irish artists are making and thinking about, and the diversity of work on display — from traditional oil painting to experimental installation — provides a snapshot of the current state of the art in Ireland.
The exhibition also matters because it provides a platform for emerging artists to show their work alongside established names, in a context that gives their work credibility and visibility. For many young Irish artists, having work selected for the RHA Annual Exhibition is a significant milestone in their careers, and the exhibition has historically been a launching pad for artists who have gone on to achieve national and international recognition.
The RHA's programme of guided tours and artist talks, of which the Una Sealy tour is an example, is an important part of its mission to make visual arts accessible to a wider audience. By providing expert guidance and context, these events help visitors who might otherwise feel intimidated by contemporary art to engage with the work on display in a meaningful way.
Local Impact
The RHA Annual Exhibition is a significant draw for visitors to Dublin's south inner city, and its presence on Ely Place contributes to the cultural vitality of an area that is home to a number of other significant cultural institutions, including the National Concert Hall and the Irish Georgian Society. The exhibition attracts visitors from across Ireland and from abroad, and the footfall it generates benefits the local restaurants, cafés and shops in the surrounding area.
For Dublin's visual arts community, the exhibition is a focal point of the summer season — a time when artists, collectors, critics and enthusiasts come together to see and discuss the work that is being made in Ireland. The opening night, which took place in late May, was one of the most attended events in the Dublin arts calendar, and the exhibition has maintained strong visitor numbers throughout its run.
What's Next
The 196th Annual Exhibition continues at the Gallagher Gallery until 9 August, with a programme of guided tours, artist talks and other events planned throughout the summer. The RHA will announce the winners of its annual prizes — which recognise outstanding work in a range of categories — in the coming weeks. Planning for the 197th Annual Exhibition is already under way, with the submission process expected to open in the autumn.
