190th RHA Annual Exhibition

Now in its 190th year, Ireland’s largest and longest running open submission exhibition was postponed from its usual summer spot and due to recent changes to restrictions in place for Dublin, the date for reopening the gallery has now been confirmed as Wednesday 2 December. We will be implementing all of the HSE/NSAI required protocols for the safety and comfort of all our visitors and staff when the RHA Gallery reopens.
To enable us to provide a safe, authentic art experience, tickets are free but we ask that you book your visit to the gallery HERE.

Thank you for your understanding on this matter. Your safety is our priority. 

190th RHA Annual Exhibition Online

For the first time in the Annual’s history, you can now view all 455 works of art online (no longer available)
Enjoy viewing the exhibition in its entirety, with each individual work having been professionally photographed, discover prize winners, Academy Member-led tours and make purchases, all from the safety of your own home. Support the Arts.

190th RHA Annual Exhibition 3D Virtual Tours

The RHA were grateful to receive the wonderful gift of having the entire gallery virtually mapped by two enterprising young students from St. Gerard’s School, Bray. Charlie Raethorne and Sean Murphy brought their Matterport Pro 3D camera to create a virtual viewing experience of the Annual Exhibition as part of a Transition Year project. The outcome is a full VR tour, now available online for those of you who would like to explore and take in the wonderful installation and hang of the exhibition by Donald Teskey RHA, from the comfort of your own home.

190th RHA Annual Exhibition Awards Announced

We, the RHA are delighted to announce that artists’ awards contributing to a generous prize fund of over €52,500 have been awarded to artists exhibiting in the 190th RHA Annual Exhibition. The Academy remains indebted to the many generous sponsors who make this prize fund possible. Exhibition Awards Announced HERE.

190th RHA Annual Exhibition

“A rollercoaster ride of a year but we are succeeding in bringing you the 190th Annual from October through to December, online! The RHA Annual is a great artist led initiative, chosen by artists, installed by artists, and central to artists as it offers such access to the public and their support. Rest assured, when we can reopen our doors, the Annual will be presented in an environment where your safety is our priority and we can guarantee you an enjoyable engagement with the work on show. Let us do the worrying!” Patrick T Murphy, RHA Director.
Showcasing painting, sculpture, print, photography, drawing and architectural models by Academy Members, invited artists and through an open submission process, the 190th Annual Exhibition offers an unparalleled opportunity for the first time buyer and discerning collector alike.
Abigail O’Brien, President of the RHA, explains; “This year the Annual Exhibition transitioned to a digital submission format and 4,129 entries were made online by 2,698 artists, the largest submission ever. Over the course of a week the Selection Committee reviewed the first round of digital submissions together in the RHA Library and selected 645 for the second round, before Covid-19 restrictions came into force. Artists shortlisted for the second round delivered their work to the RHA over three days in August, by prior arrangement, and the committee made the final selection of the exhibition. All the selected works have been put through a rigorous and thoughtful process by the Selection Committee.
The theme for our Annual Exhibition catalogue this year is Landscape. Covid-19 saw our landscapes contracted and we were restricted. Some to four walls and to private outdoor spaces – if we are fortunate enough to have them. Some to 2km, then, to 5km and finally 20km. It is interesting to consider this pre-pandemic work and to imagine how these artworks, or how we see them, has changed today.
The shared international crisis has brought focus on many aspects of our society and social structures. We ask ourselves what is essential and what is working well, what matters and what doesn’t. Art has an important role to play in asking and answering these questions, and imagining what a different life might be like. Art makes us think, inspires us and gives us joy. These are not luxuries; they are essential to the human experience and this huge shared experience has given us the reason and the time to reflect upon them.
To perform this social role, artists need to survive and if we are to have a vibrant art landscape in Ireland we especially need to continue to provide routes and supports, especially for early career artists.
Technology has been a creative tool for many artists, and as mentioned, this year it has been an enabler of the Annual Exhibition and made the open submission process more accessible than ever before. For most people, technology became our sole connection to important people in our lives. Social media saw art and creativity expand into the unexpected time available to many.
Reconnecting with the physical work in the Gallery will, I think, be a thrilling and memorable experience. For most visitors to the exhibition, it may be their first direct, personal cultural engagement in many, many months.
My sincere congratulations to the artists who made it through the process to feature on these walls. It is a real achievement. I am grateful to the RHA Members who gave unstintingly of their time, energy and opinions in making the difficult final selection. This is a notable Annual in the RHA’s long history – we hope there will not be another like it – and it is testimony to the creative force, resilience and determination of the Academy to provide opportunities to artists, and to make art available to all, in the heart of Dublin city”.
Full essay by Abigail O’Brien PRHA is available in the RHA 190th Annual Exhibition catalogue.