VAI News

Out Now | November December 2025 issue of The Visual Artists’ News Sheet

Among other feature articles for this issue, Aengus Woods interviews John Daly about the 30th anniversary of Hillsboro Fine Art, Joanne Laws interviews Katie Breckon and Kate O’Shea about THE IMMA Fremantle Residency Exchange, and there are Member Profiles fromMary Fahy, Stephen Doyle, and Sorcha McNamara.

This issue also includes reports on recent VAI events and activities: Brian Kielt discusses VAI’s Connected Horizons programme; while Joanne Laws and Thomas Pool report on Get Together 2025, including the networking event at TU Dublin on 8 September, and the online conference, New Institutional Approaches to Curating, happening on 16 September.

Timely coverage of recent exhibitions around the country includes: Jason McCarthy at Droichead Arts Centre; Alice Maher at Kevin Kavanagh; ‘SYSTEM ARMING’ at Luan Gallery; ‘New Irish Art’ at Lavit Gallery; ‘Of Peras and Apeiron: ends and infinity’ at Solstice Arts Centre; and ‘Bíodh Orm Anocht’ at Ormston House.

On The Cover

Mair Hughes, Spoil Shelter, 2025, from The Borderlands / Y Gororau project; photograph by Mair Hughes, courtesy of TULCA Festival of Visual Arts.

First Pages 

5.         News. The latest developments in the arts sector.

6.         Roundup. Exhibitions and events from the past two months.

Columns

8.         Piering Eyes. Cornelius Browne recalls the mystery and lore of Atlantis House in Burtonport, County Donegal.

Dublin Gallery Weekend. John Daly gives details of Dublin Gallery Weekend 2025, taking place from 6 to 9 November.

9.         Art Made By Walking. Lian Bell outlines the importance of walking as creative practice and a refusal of productivity.

            Dreaming Disability Futures. Alex Cregan discusses a recent disability justice workshop at Void Art Centre.

10.       Flock. Guest Curator Dr Selina Guinness outlines programme highlights for Dublin Art Book Fair in December.

11.       A Greener Future. Stephen Beggs outlines the activities of Green Arts NI – a sustainability network for Northern Ireland.

            Issues of Our Time. Niamh O’Malley discusses the 2025 RDS Visual Art Awards at the RHA.

Organisation Profile

12.       A Crazy Vocation. Aengus Woods interviews John Daly about the 30-year evolution of Hillsboro Fine Art.

Festival / Biennial

14.       Strange Lands Still Bear Common Ground. Clodagh Assata Boyce interviews Beulah Ezeugo, curator of TULCA 2025.

16.       A Borderless Romance. Rachel Macmanus reports on Convergence Festival presented by Live Art Ireland in August.

Exhibition Profile

17.       Ends and Infinity. Aengus Woods reviews a recent exhibition at Solstice Arts Centre.

18.       Hometown. Dorothy Smith discusses Jason McCarthy’s recent exhibition at Droichead Arts Centre.

Critique

19.       Alice Maher, Sibyl I, 2025. 

20.       Alice Maher at Kevin Kavanagh

21.       ‘SYSTEM ARMING’ at Luan Gallery

22.       ‘New Irish Art’ at Lavit Gallery

24.       ‘Bíodh Orm Anocht’ at Ormston House

VAI Event

25.       Connected Horizons. Brian Kielt reports on VAI’s ongoing Connected Horizons programme.

26.       Get Together 2025. Joanne Laws and Thomas Pool report on Ireland’s annual networking event for visual artists.

29.       New Institutional Approaches to Curating. Joanne Laws and Thomas Pool report on VAI’s inaugural curatorial presentation.

Residency

30.       Jump Cuts & Tree Judgements. Joanne Laws interviews Katie Breckon and Kate O’Shea about THE IMMA Fremantle Residency Exchange.

Member Profile

32.       The Spirit of the Place. Cristín Leach reflects on the Brigid’s Well paintings of Mary Fahy.

33.       The Dysphoric Age. Stephen Doyle outlines their evolving practice and recent exhibition at Highlanes Gallery.

34.       Echolocations. Sorcha McNamara outlines the evolution of her artistic practice.

Last Pages

36.       VAI Lifelong Learning. Upcoming VAI helpdesks, cafés and webinars.

37.       Opportunities. Grants, Awards, Open Calls, and Commissions.