5 Exhibitions Across Ireland
Only recently, on April 15th, World Art Day was celebrated. This day is all about appreciating art in its many forms: it marks the birthday of Leonardo da Vinci, one of history’s most famous artists. His works, like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, still inspire people today.
This day isn’t just about famous paintings, it’s about creativity everywhere. From galleries to street art, art helps us express ideas, emotions, and culture. World Art Day reminds us how art connects people, tells stories, and brings new perspectives to the world around us.
It’s never too late to explore the art around us, so here are five art exhibitions across Ireland worth exploring! From bold contemporary pieces to reflective installations, we break down what each show is about and where it’s happening.
1. William Blake: The Age of Romantic Fantasy
Location - National Gallery of Ireland
On display from 16 April to 19 July 2026, William Blake: The Age of Romantic Fantasy at the National Gallery of Ireland offers insight into a period of extraordinary originality and innovation in late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century art. Featuring over 100 works, including pieces by James Barry and Henry Fuseli, the exhibition places Blake within a wider circle of radical artists.
William Blake, a visionary artist and poet, was a defining force of Romanticism, known for his imaginative and unconventional work. Curated by Tate in partnership with the National Gallery of Ireland, the exhibition presents his iconic pieces alongside works by contemporaries. Together, they explore how artists responded to an era of revolution and transformation, pushing creative boundaries into new imaginative territories
2. Mark O’Neill: A Celebration of Light and Movement
Location: The Whitethorn Gallery
Opening on 19 April, this new exhibition by Mark O'Neill celebrates light, texture, and movement through a collection of over 20 previously unseen works. Known for his expressive style, O’Neill captures the tonal richness of colour with remarkable depth, creating paintings that feel both dynamic and atmospheric.
The exhibition opens from 6–9 PM and runs until 19 May 2026 at Whitethorn Gallery, with the artist present on opening night.
O’Neill is one of Ireland’s most respected contemporary painters, admired for his mastery of light and his ability to evoke emotion through colour and form. His work stands out for its vibrancy and technical precision.
3. Tinka Bechert: Polyrhythms
Location: The Model
Polyrhythms is a solo exhibition by Tinka Bechert at The Model, running from 4 April to 31 May 2026. Opening on 4 April (3–5 PM) and launched by Sinéad Ní Mhaonaigh, the exhibition explores abstraction through rhythm, repetition, and movement.
Bechert’s multidisciplinary work, spanning painting, textiles, and sculpture, moves away from narrative imagery, drawing instead on musical structures and Bauhaus influences. Based between Sligo and Berlin, she is recognised for blending formal experimentation with intuitive, expressive practice.
4. Natura
Location: Lavit Gallery
Running from 23 April to 16 May 2026, the Backwater Artists Members Exhibition in the Main Gallery brings together eight emerging artists, curated by Brian Mac Domhnaill. Opening on 23 April (5:30–7:30 PM), with an artist talk on 9 May, the exhibition explores the complex relationship between humans and nature.
Featuring artists such as Debbie Godsell, Hina Khan, and Conor O'Brien, the works span painting, photography, and installation. Themes range from biodiversity and landscape politics to identity and memory.
Drawing on the concept of natura, the exhibition reflects on how nature is interpreted, shaped, and reimagined through human experience, blending personal narratives with broader cultural and environmental concerns.
5. Cecilia Vicuña: Reverse Migration, a Poetic Journey
Location: IMMA
Reverse Migration, a Poetic Journey at Irish Museum of Modern Art marks the first Irish solo exhibition of Cecilia Vicuña. The exhibition explores ancestry, ecological urgency, and human interconnectedness, inspired by her journey from the Andes to Ireland.
Blending visual art, poetry, and sound, Vicuña presents a powerful body of work centred around a monumental quipuinstallation, an ancient Andean communication system, reimagined through Irish cultural references like Aran knitting. A new sound piece, Mourning Dialog, weaves bird calls with spoken word, creating an immersive experience.
Through her multidisciplinary practice, Vicuña invites audiences to reflect on environmental crises, cultural memory, and the urgent need for collective care and reconnection with the earth.
Written by: Shreya Sharma @shreyaaaaaaa159
Edited by: Alex Kelleher @alex_kelleher_
