Out Now | January February 2026 issue of The Visual Artists’ News Sheet
Happy new year to our dedicated VAN readers. We hope you had a restful and enjoyable festive season. We are pleased to present the first issue of the year, which foregrounds timely visual art projects, shows, and events happening around the country.
In columns for this issue, Grace O’Boyle reflects on Myrid Carten’s award-winning documentary film, A Want in Her, Hollie Kearns discusses Colour Field, a new artist’s dye garden at Workhouse Union, while Nathan O’Donnell reflects on his participation in Kunstverein Projects’ Creative Producers Programme.
Among feature articles, there are Member Profiles from Emma Stroude, Maria Ginnity, Mags Geaney, Samir Mahmood, and Sinéad Mccann; Michele Horrigan presents a glossary of Askeaton Contemporary Arts, now celebrating 20 years; and VAI presents The Visual Artists Bill of Rights, which establishes fundamental protections, entitlements, and standards for artists work¬ing within Ireland and the European Union.
This issue also includes timely coverage of recent exhibitions nationwide: ‘Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood’ at VISUAL; Cecilia Vicuña at IMMA; Corban Walker at Solomon Fine Art; ‘Pattern Recognition: Architectures of Seeing’ at Riverbank Arts Centre; ‘Fallen Tree / Crann Leagtha’ at Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich; Geraldine O’Neill at Kevin Kavanagh; Susan MacWilliam at Ormston House; and Brian Harte at Butler Gallery.
On The Cover
Emma Stroude, Three Towers. Impenitent., 2025, oil on canvas, 150cm x 150cm; photograph by Dickon Whitehead, courtesy of the artist.
First Pages
6. Roundup. Exhibitions and events from the past two months.
8. News. The latest developments in the arts sector.
Columns
9. Winter Bookends. Cornelius Browne punctuates the shorter days with dawn paintings and winter nocturnes.
A Want in Her. Grace O’Boyle reflects on Myrid Carten’s award-winning documentary film.
10. A Walking Library. Lian Bell outlines some reading material on walking and related fields.
What is Creative Production? Nathan O’Donnell reflects on his participation in Kunstverein Projects’ Creative Producers Programme.
11. The Colour Field. Hollie Kearns discusses a new artist’s dye garden and associated workshop programme at Workhouse Union.
Exhibition Profile
12. Acts of Creation. Dr Kate Antosik-Parsons reviews the Hayward Gallery touring exhibition currently at VISUAL.
14. Pattern Recognition. Paula Barrett outlines a recent exhibition at Riverbank Arts Centre presenting work by 15 Kildare-based artists.
16. Reverse Migration. Grace O’Boyle considers Cecilia Vicuña exhibition at IMMA
18. The Paradise [mother, unmothered]. Pauline Keena and Dr Loïc Bourdeau discuss their collaboration for theMotherhood Project.
From the Earth. Sean Walsh interviews Margo McNulty about her studio residency and solo exhibition at Esker Arts.
Critique
19. Sharon Kelly, Roman Book Page, 2025.
20. Corban Walker at Solomon Fine Art
21. ‘Fallen Tree / Crann Leagtha’ at Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich
22. Geraldine O’Neill at Kevin Kavanagh
23. Susan MacWilliam at Ormston House
24. Brian Harte at Butler Gallery
International Profile
26. The Medium is the Message. Pádraic E. Moore considers the currentexhibition atthe College of Psychic Studies in London.
Organisation Profile
28. A to Z of ACA. Michele Horrigan presents a glossary of Askeaton Contemporary Arts, now celebrating 20 years.
VAI Policy
30. The Visual Artists Bill of Rights. Theprotections, entitlements, and standards for artists working within Ireland and the European Union.
Performance Art
32. How We Get Free. Clodagh Assata Boyce outlines a Black Feminist Performance Art Programme at PS² in Belfast.
Member Profile
33. Core Heat. Emma Stroude outlines the trajectory and ongoing concerns of her figurative painting practice.
34. In Transit. Maria Ginnity outlines the evolution of her painting practice.
35. Dethroned Icons. Mags Geaney discusses her artistic practice.
36. Symplegmatic Portals. Miguel Amado considers the practice of Samir Mahmood.
Brave Spaces. Dr Sinéad Mccann outlines some of her recent socially engaged projects.
Last Pages
37. Public Art Roundup. Site-specific works beyond the gallery.
38. VAI Lifelong Learning. Helpdesks, cafés, and webinars.