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Moyra Barry (1886-1960), Self-Portrait in the Artist’s Studio, 1920. © Estate of Moyra Barry. Photo, National Gallery of Ireland.

An Artist’s Presence at the National Gallery of Ireland

New free exhibition explores how artists represent themselves in their work

On 17 May 2025, the National Gallery of Ireland will open a new exhibition, An Artist’s Presence, in the Print Gallery. This exhibition explores how artists, consciously or unconsciously, infuse their work with a sense of individuality. Through drawings, prints, photographs, and sketchbooks, complemented by select oil paintings, the exhibition examines themes of perception, legacy, the artistic process, and how an artist's hand can be identified.

Curated by Katie Buckley, Curatorial Fellow – Prints & Drawings, An Artist’s Presence presents a compelling selection of newly acquired works shown alongside seldom-seen pieces from the Gallery’s collection. The exhibition brings together celebrated Irish and international artists, including Sarah Henrietta Purser (1848–1943), Walter Frederick Osborne (1859–1903), William Orpen (1878–1931), Seán Keating (1889–1977), Nancy Lee Katz (1947–2018), and Amelia Stein (b. 1958). Highlights include Moyra Barry’s introspective Self-Portrait in the Artist’s Studio (1920), Keating’s Thinking out Gobnait (1917), a cherished gift to Harry Clarke, Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s graphic portrait of Jane Burden (1858), and Katz’s striking photographic portrait of Louise Bourgeois (taken 1986, printed 2018–2023).

The exhibition explores how an artist’s presence can be both literal and intangible. It may be visibly asserted in a self-portrait—where the artist appears at work, brush or palette in hand, or wearing a painter’s smock—or felt more subtly through expressive gestures, stylistic choices, or the unguarded marks found in a sketchbooks. Sometimes, presence is revealed in the smallest details: a fingerprint smudged in graphite, a scribbled annotation, or the texture of paper worn by use. Whether seen or sensed, these traces offer intimate insight into the artist’s creative process and help us understand their mind-set long after the work is made.

In addition to self-portraiture, An Artist’s Presence features works where artists have turned their gaze to fellow creatives. These depictions blur the boundaries between sitter and maker, raising compelling questions about whose presence is being conveyed—the subject’s, the artist’s, or an interplay of both. Such works offer layered narratives, inviting viewers to consider how interpretation and identity intersect within the creative process.

Dr. Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, commented: “An Artist’s Presence is a thoughtful and intimate exhibition that offers visitors a unique window into the relationship between artists and their work. It encourages us to look closely—not just at the artwork, but at the hand, mind, and identity behind it. Whether through a self-portrait, a shared creative moment, or the quiet traces left in a sketchbook, these works reveal something deeply personal about the artist. We are delighted to share this exhibition with our visitors, drawing on the richness of our collection to explore the many ways artists leave their mark.”

Through a diverse selection of works on paper, the exhibition explores themes of perception, memory, influence, and artistic identity. It seeks to immerse visitors in the intimate world of the artist, encouraging them to reflect on the complex relationship between artist, work of art, and viewer. Ultimately, An Artist’s Presence invites us to consider how an artist’s voice and vision continue to resonate—sometimes boldly, sometimes subtly—but always meaningfully.

An Artist’s Presence will be on view in the Print Gallery from 17 May to 14 September 2025. Admission is free. This exhibition is kindly supported by Brian Baum in loving memory of Úna Wilson. 

The Gallery would like to thank the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for its ongoing support. For more information, visit www.nationalgallery.ie

ENDS

Media contacts:

  • Fiona Sexton, Communications, Marketing & Digital Engagement Manager, National Gallery of Ireland, [email protected] 

 
Notes to Editor:

  • Images are available at the link: https://we.tl/t-X92LACkwMg
  • Dr Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, and exhibition curator Katie Buckley are available for interview 

Exhibition listing:

An Artist’s Presence
Print Gallery, National Gallery of Ireland: 17 May to 14 September 2025
Free admission 
Curator: Katie Buckley, Curatorial Fellow – Prints & Drawings

About the National Gallery of Ireland:

The National Gallery of Ireland is one of the country’s most popular visitor attractions housing the nation’s collection of European and Irish art from about 1300 to the present day, and an extensive Library & Archive. Entry to the collection is free for all to enjoy, learn and be inspired. Tickets are required for some temporary exhibitions. 
Web: nationalgallery.ie   
Instagram: @nationalgalleryofireland
Twitter: @NGIreland
Facebook: @nationalgalleryofireland
LinkedIn: @nationalGalleryofIreland 

 

An Artist’s Presence i nGailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann 


Taispeántas nua saor in aisce ina ndéantar fiosrú ar an gcaoi a léiríonn ealaíontóirí iad féin ina gcuid saothar

Osclófar taispeántas nua, An Artist’s Presence, ar an 17 Bealtaine 2025 i nGailearaí na bPriontaí i nGailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann. Fiosraítear sa taispeántas seo an chaoi a léiríonn ealaíontóirí a n-indibhidiúlacht ina gcuid saothar, go feasach nó go neamhfheasach. Le pictiúir, priontaí, grianghraif, agus leabhair sceitseála, chomh maith le péinteálacha ola ar leith, fiosrófar téamaí braistinte, oidhreachta, an phróisis ealaíne agus an chaoi ar féidir stíl an ealaíontóra a aithint sa taispeántas.

Is í Katie Buckley, Comhalta Coimeádaíochta - Priontaí agus Líníochtaí, a léirigh An Artist’s Presence ina bhfuil bailiúchán de shaothair nua an-spéisiúil á thaispeáint chomh maith le saothair nach bhfacthas go minic ó bhailiúchán an Ghailearaí. Beidh ealaíontóirí Éireannacha agus idirnáisiúnta mór le rá sa taispeántas, lena n-áirítear Sarah Henrietta Purser (1848-1943), Walter Frederick Osborne (1859-1903), William Orpen (1878-1931), Seán Keating (1889-1977), Nancy Lee Katz (1947-2018), agus Amelia Stein (b. 1958). I measc bhuaicphointí an taispeántais beidh Self-Portrait in the Artist’s Studio (1920) le Moyra Barry, Thinking out Gobnait (1917) le Keating, bronntanas a raibh an-tóir ag Harry Clarke air, portráid ghrafach Dante Gabriel Rossetti de Jane Burden (1858), agus portráid thaibhseach fhótagrafach Katz de Louise Bourgeois (glactha 1986, priontáilte 2018-2023).

Fiosrófar sa taispeántas an chaoi ar féidir le láithreacht an ealaíontóra a bheith litriúil agus dobhraite. D’fhéadfadh an láithreacht sin a bheith an-fheiceálach i bhféinphortráid - ina bhfeictear an t-ealaíontóir i mbun oibre, scuab nó pailéad ina lámh, nó le forléine péinteála orthu - nó d’fhéadfaí an láithreacht a bhrath trí ghothaí mothúchánacha, cinntí stíle nó na marcanna neamhchosanta a fhaightear i leabhair sceitseála. Uaireanta, léirítear an láithreacht sin sna mionsonraí is lú: lorg méire smeartha i ngraifít, anótáil scriobláilte, nó uigeacht an pháipéir atá caite ó bheith á úsáid. Cibé an bhfeictear nó an mbraitear iad, tugann na lorga seo léargas pearsanta dúinn ar phróiseas cruthaitheach an ealaíontóra agus cabhraíonn sé linn a n-aigne a thuiscint i bhfad i ndiaidh don saothar a bheith curtha i gcrích.

Chomh maith le féinphortráidí, beidh saothair inar dhírigh ealaíontóirí isteach ar ealaíontóirí eile in An Artist’s Presence. Sna léirithe seo, tá na teorainneacha idir an suiteoir agus an déantóir neamhchinnte, agus ardaítear ceisteanna spéisiúla faoin té atá á thaispeáint - an suiteoir, an t-ealaíontóir, nó idirghníomhú idir an bheirt acu. Tá scéalta casta sna saothair seo, ina dtugtar cuireadh don lucht spéise machnamh a dhéanamh ar an gcaoi a dtrasnaítear an léirmhíniú agus an fhéiniúlacht sa phróiseas cruthaitheach.

Dúirt an Dr Caroline Campbell, Stiúrthóir Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann: “Is taispeántas machnamhach agus pearsanta é An Artist’s Presence ina dtugtar deis uathúil do chuairteoirí an caidreamh idir ealaíontóirí agus a gcuid saothar a fheiceáil. Spreagann sé muid le bheith ag breathnú níos géire - ní hamháin ar an bpíosa ealaíne, ach ar an lámh, an intinn, agus an fhéiniúlacht atá taobh thiar de. Trí fhéinphortráid, trí nóiméad cruthaitheach roinnte, nó trí na lorga beaga a fágadh i leabhar sceitseála, nochtaítear nithe an-phearsanta faoin ealaíontóir sna saothair seo. Tá an-áthas orainn an taispeántas seo a roinnt lenár gcuairteoirí, ina mbaintear úsáid as saibhreas ár mbailiúcháin chun na bealaí éagsúla ina bhfágann ealaíontóirí a lorg a fhiosrú.”

Fiosrófar téamaí braistinte, cuimhne, tionchair, agus féiniúlacht ealaíontóra i réimse leathan saothar ar pháipéar sa taispeántas seo. Féachfar le cuairteoirí a thumadh i ndomhan an ealaíontóra, á spreagadh chun machnamh a dhéanamh ar an gcaidreamh casta idir an t-ealaíontóir, an saothar ealaíne agus an breathnóir. I ndeireadh na dála, tugtar cuireadh dúinn in An Artist’s Presence machnamh a dhéanamh ar an gcaoi a thagann guth agus fís an ealaíontóra trasna - go láidir uaireanta, go ciúin uaireanta eile - ach go mbíonn brí leis i gcónaí.

Beidh An Artist’s Presence le feiceáil i nGailearaí na bPriontaí ón 17 Bealtaine go dtí an 14 Meán Fómhair 2025. Beidh saorchead isteach. Tacaíonn Brian Baum go gnaíúil leis an taispeántas seo i ndilchuimhne ar Úna Wilson. 

Ba mhaith leis an nGailearaí buíochas a ghabháil leis an Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán as a dtacaíocht leanúnach. Le haghaidh tuilleadh eolais, téigh chuig www.nationalgallery.ie

CRÍOCH

Teagmháil do na Meáin:

  • Fiona Sexton, Bainisteoir Cumarsáide, Margaíochta agus Rannpháirtíochta Digití, Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann, [email protected] 

 
Nótaí don Eagarthóir:

  • Is féidir íomhanna a fháil ar an nasc: https://we.tl/t-X92LACkwMg
  • Tá an Dr Caroline Campbell, Stiúrthóir Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann agus coimeádaí an taispeántais, Katie Buckley, ar fáil le haghaidh agallamh. 

Clár an Taispeántais:

An Artist’s Presence
Gailearaí na bPriontaí, Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann: An 17 Bealtaine - an 14 Meán Fómhair 2025
Cead isteach saor in aisce 
Coimeádaí: Katie Buckley, Comhalta Coimeádaíochta - Priontaí & Líníochtaí

Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann:

Tá Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann ar cheann de na hionaid is mó sa tír a mheallann cuairteoirí agus is ann atá bailiúchán na tíre d’ealaín na hEorpa agus na hÉireann ó thart ar an mbliain 1300 go dtí an lá atá inniu ann, mar aon le Leabharlann agus Cartlann fhairsing. Tá cead isteach chuig an mbailiúchán saor in aisce do gach duine chun taitneamh a bhaint as, chun bheith ag foghlaim agus chun ábhar spreagtha a bhaint as. Tá ticéid ag teastáil le haghaidh roinnt taispeántas sealadach. 
Gréasán: nationalgallery.ie   
Instagram: @nationalgalleryofireland
Twitter: @NGIreland
Facebook: @nationalgalleryofireland
LinkedIn: @nationalGalleryofIreland