We invite you to view works by 350+ artists working in paint, sculpture, drawing, print, photography and architecture, when the 195th RHA Annual Exhibition in association with McCann FitzGerald opens to the public, with free admission, from Monday 26 May.
Leading Irish law firm McCann FitzGerald LLP, announced their 3-year title sponsorship of the exhibition in February of this year, which has been guided by their ‘Go Further’ proposition. This premium sponsorship reflects McCann FitzGerald’s dedication to enabling their clients, people and communities to achieve their ambitions – a purpose that resonates strongly with the mission of the RHA.
Both McCann FitzGerald and the RHA share a rich heritage, each tracing their origins back almost 200 years. This legacy of excellence underscores their shared vision of making a lasting impact on Ireland’s cultural landscape. The Annual Exhibition celebrates creativity, innovation, and accessibility in the arts, supporting both established and emerging artists in their pursuit of excellence.
Visitors can view works by Academy Members, invited artists and works by artists who were successful in the very competitive open submission process. 2025, saw a total of 4,565 works of art submitted, from which, following a very rigorous 2 rounds of selection, 422 works have been accepted and will be exhibited throughout all gallery spaces at the RHA.
A high point of Ireland’s cultural calendar, this exhibition has proven to be a great opportunity for both first-time and experienced buyers alike.
Artists exhibiting this year, include: Robert Ballagh, Aideen Barry ARHA, Dorothy Cross RHA, Martin Gale RHA, Joy Gerrard ARHA, Richard Gorman RHA, Ciarán Murphy, Eilis O’Connell RHA, Mick O’Dea PPRHA, Una Sealy RHA, Armelle Skatulski, Donald Teskey RHA, Charles Tyrrell ARHA and Danny Osbourne amongst many more.
With a generous prize fund of over €70,000 across a variety of medium, the RHA Annual Exhibition attracts the highest calibre of artists working today. Prizes include: The RCSI Art Award in association with The Irish Times, €5,000 prize and €10,000 commission, The Ireland – U.S. Council and Irish Arts Review Portraiture Award of €5,000 and The ESB Keating Award for Outstanding Art Work, Silver Medal and prize of €3,000, the McCann FitzGerald Portraiture prize, amongst others.
This year, five exhibiting artists will also be short-listed by the Hennessy Craig/Homan Potterton Jury to exhibit alongside the five short-listed artists from the 2024 Annual Exhibition. The recipient of The Hennessy Craig Award – Bequest of the estate of Patrick Hennessy and Henry Robertson Craig – of €20,000 and the Homan Potterton Prize – Bequest of the estate of Homan Potterton – of €10,000 will be announced in 2026. The Awards are open to any painter under the age of thirty-five exhibiting in the open submission section of the Academy’s Annual Exhibition. The painter must have studied at a recognised art college on the island of Ireland to qualify for the Hennessy Craig Award or their style acknowledges the tradition of painting figurative or landscape subjects for the Homan Potterton Prize.
We greatly look forward to welcoming you to the 195th RHA Annual Exhibition in association with McCann FitzGerald, this May. Admission is always free and the exhibition will be supported by a full colour catalogue.
Images: 01. James English RHA, Marginal Plants, Annaghmakerrig Lough, 2025, Oil on canvas, 60 x 75cm, Image courtesy of the artist.
02. Diana Copperwhite RHA, Blizzard, 2025, Oil on canvas, 150 x 180cm, Image courtesy of the artist.
03. Conor Horgan, Disco Vegetables – Pink Oyster Mushrooms 1, 2025, Archival photograph on aluminium Dibond, 25 x 25cm, Image courtesy of the artist.
04. Andrew Folan RHA, The Republic of Pareidolia (abstract entity), 2025, Archival digital print with pyrography and cubic zirconia crystals, 62 x 79cm, Image courtesy of the artist.
05. Eileen Mac Donagh RHA, Ozymandias, 2025, Limestone, 65 x 18 x 17cm, Image courtesy of the artist.
06. Cathy Dorman, Something Pink, After Gray, 2025, Oil & acrylic on linen, 30 x 40cm, Image courtesy of the artist.
07. Sineád Ní Mhaonaigh RHA, Vessel, 2023, Oil on canvas, 182 x 182cm, Image courtesy of the artist.
08. Dr. Abigail O’Brien PRHA, Susanna and the Elders I, 2025, Photographic archival print framed under UV protected glass, 140 x 100cm, Image courtesy of the artist.
09. Rachel Joynt RHA, Síol II, 2025, Bronze and black granite, 55 x 15 x 10cm, Image courtesy of the artist.
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