WITH cutting-edge contemporary art at Art Evolve in Dublin, the annual members exhibition at the Lavit Gallery in Cork and online art auctions in full swing, Irish collectors are spoiled for choice right now. More than 60 galleries and artists are assembled under one roof this weekend at Art Evolve, making the RDS a great venue for the culturally curious.
Even if you happen to keep a very close eye on contemporary happenings in the art world, there is bound to be new work and new artists to discover. This show offers a great opportunity to trawl through what is currently being created in Ireland and available right now.
Blue Cupped edition 3 by Nigel Rolfe at Green on Red Gallery at Art Evolve.
At Art Evolve, the Contemporary Art Gallery Association (CAGA) has joined forces with other galleries and individual artists. The CAGA galleries driving this event are Kevin Kavannagh, Kerlin, Taylor, Oliver Sears, SO Fine Art Editions, Solomon, Molesworth, Hillsborough and Green on Red.
Demand for high-end modern art is dynamic, according to organiser Patrick O’Sullivan. There is no shortage of variety, affordability and availability, making this a good time for art lovers to get their skates on and join in the hunt. More than 9,500 people came to view the first edition last year, and interest runs high.
Majestic Vellum Hathor by West Cork-based Hammond Journeaux at the Lavit Gallery.
If you cannot make it to Dublin, the annual members’ exhibition by Cork Arts Society at the Lavit Gallery is now underway. This is an annual highlight where work submitted by members is selected for the show. Around 100 works from over 300 submitted were chosen by the three-person judging panel, Katie O’Grady of The Glucksman, artist Michael Quane and Sarah Foster from the Crawford College.
Exhibitors include Katherine Boucher Beug, Wendy Dison, Paul La Rocque, Deirdre Brennan, Hammond Journeaux, Damaris Lysaght, Ben Reilly, Inge van Doorslaer, Vivienne Bogan, Gerard Daly and Joseph Heffernan. The exhibition continues until April 18.
Early Easter light on Inishmaan by Cecil Maguire at Dolan’s.
The Galway-based auction house Dolan’s is running a timed online auction with Irish art and rare Irish whiskeys until 6.30pm on Monday evening. There is a collection of 60 Irish whiskeys, mostly Very Rare Midleton, which attracts global internet demand from as far afield as Sydney and San Francisco.
Among the artists in the auction are Arthur Maderson, Cecil Maguire, Susan Cronin, Mark O’Neill, Charles Harper, Maurice Wilks, George Gillespie, Desmond Turner, Manus Walsh and Anne Primrose Jury. There is a collection of original Hollywood film posters and autographed photographs of stars, including Debbie Reynolds, Pierce Brosnan, Maureen O’Hara, Tony Curtis, Marilyn Monroe, Meryl Streep and Nick Nolte. The catalogue is online.