Out Now | March April 2026 issue of The Visual Artists’ News Sheet
VAN March/April 2026 issue foregrounds visual art projects, events, exhibitions, and screening programmes happening around the country and overseas. For the international section, John Graham considers the Gerhard Richter retrospective at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris; Cian Duggan discusses his recent exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City and the wider art scene in Vietnam; and Brenda Moore-McCann reports on an event in Rome with Na Cailleacha for St Brigid’s Day.
Among feature articles for this issue, Helena Tobin reflects on the evolution of South Tipperary Arts Centre over the last 30 years; Aengus Woods considers several recent photography exhibitions in Dublin; Emma Battlebury outlines ‘Desire Lines’, a screening programme organised by aemi; while member profiles explore the art practices of Charys Wilson, Mary St. Leger, and Marie Phelan.
This issue also includes timely coverage of recent exhibitions nationwide: ‘WAAG: An Archive’ at Mermaid Arts Centre in Wicklow; Oliver Jeffers at Naughton Gallery in Belfast; Elinor O’Donovan at Triskel Arts Centre and Sirius Arts Centre in Cork; ‘It’s Not Clear from Here’ at CCA Derry ~ Londonderry; Naomi Sex at VISUAL Carlow; and ‘Songs to the Siren’ at The Model in Sligo.
On The Cover
Na Cailleacha, The School of Hibernia (After Raphael), 2024 [detail], tableau staged in the Museum Building, Trinity College Dublin, 9 March 2024; photograph by Ros Kavanagh, courtesy of the artists and Trinity College Dublin.
FIRST PAGES
6 Roundup. Exhibitions and events from the past two months.
8 News. The latest developments in the arts sector.
COLUMNS
9 Close-Knit. Cornelius Browne considers the handcrafted patterns that bind him to his ancestors.
What Is A Creative Producer? Rachel Botha reports on a recent event at Mermaid Arts Centre.
10 Municipal Walker. Lian Bell discusses a monthly ritualised walk around Dublin undertaken as an act of civic care.
The Business of Art. VAI Advocacy OfficerBrian Kieltoutlines financial advice and resources for visualartists.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
11 Between My Finger and My Thumb. Joseph McBrinn interviews Cardiff-based Irish artist Claire Curneen.
MOVING IMAGE
12 Desire Lines. Emma Battlebury outlines a screening programme organised by aemi.
SOCIALLY ENGAGED PRACTICE
14 Lattices of Love. Sarah Browne describes a project by Workhouse Union exploring relational understandings of care.
ART COLLECTIVE
15 Waking The Land. The ÁIT Collective outline their collaborative ethos and recent activities.
PHOTOGRAPHY ROUNDUP
16 New Mythologies. Aengus Woods reflects on several recent photography exhibitions in Dublin.
CRITIQUE
19 Oliver Jeffers, ‘Disasters and Interventions’, installation view.
20 ‘WAAG: An Archive’ at Mermaid Arts Centre
21 Oliver Jeffers at Naughton Gallery
22 Elinor O’Donovan at Triskel and Sirius Art Centres
23 ‘It’s Not Clear from Here’ at CCA Derry~Londonderry
24 Naomi Sex at VISUAL
INTERNATIONAL
26 Post Mortem. John Graham considers the recent Gerhard Richter retrospective at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris.
28 Thinspace. Cian Duggan discusses his recent exhibition in Vietnam.
29 School of Hibernia. Brenda Moore-McCann reports on an event in Rome with Na Cailleacha for St Brigid’s Day.
ORGANISATION
28 STAC at 30. Helena Tobin reflects on the evolution of South Tipperary Arts Centre over the last 30 years.
EXHIBITION
30 Songs to the Siren. Phillina Sun reviews the current show at The Model in Sligo.
MEMBER
32 Spaces Between. Charys Wilson discusses developments in her art practice including some recent solo shows in Belfast.
33 The Eccentricities of Identity. Brian Curtin discusses the evolution of Mary St. Leger’s painting practice and career.
34 Transformative Encounters. Marie Phelan outlines some recent developments in her multidisciplinary art practice.
LAST PAGES
35 Opportunities. Grants, awards, open calls, and commissions.
36 VAI Lifelong Learning. Helpdesks, cafés, and webinars.