Minister O’Donovan Congratulates artist Isabel Nolan as she prepares to represent Ireland at La Biennale di Venezia 2026
- Published on: 24 March 2026
- Last updated on: 24 March 2026
Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, T.D., expressed his congratulations and best wishes as Irish artist Isabel Nolan prepares to represent Ireland at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia.
This evening, Culture Ireland launched Ireland’s representation at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in the Douglas Hyde Gallery of Contemporary Art, in Trinity College, Dublin.
Artist Isabel Nolan, with curator Georgina Jackson with the Douglas Hyde Gallery of Contemporary Art, have been selected to represent Ireland at the prestigious event. The Department, through Culture Ireland, commissions Ireland’s representation in Venice in partnership with the Arts Council.
The Venice Art Biennale, which will run from 9 May to 22 November 2026, remains the most important global platform for the exhibition of visual arts involving the public, members of civil society, individuals and institutions. It offers a unique opportunity for Irish artists to engage with international audiences.
Responding to this year’s theme, In Minor Keys - selected by curator of La Biennale, the late Koyo Kouoh, the Irish Pavilion is entitled Dreamshook. Dreamshook emerges from Nolan’s examination of the fifteenth-century Venetian printer Aldus Manutus and his creation of the paperback. Through enigmatic sculpture, radiant paintings, drawings and writing, Nolan makes manifest the human experience of orienting oneself within the vast and turbulent universe. The artist work varies from monumental to intimate in scale, allowing the audience to vacillate between wonder and unease, and grounding us in the artist’s question of “how to love a tumultuous world, an indifferent universe, and humans that are so often awful to each other.”
Minister O’Donovan said:
“I’m very pleased to see Isabel Nolan selected to represent Ireland at the Venice Biennale in 2026. It’s a significant achievement and a proud moment for her, and for Irish art."
“The Biennale offers a unique opportunity to share Irish creativity with a global audience, and Isabel’s work is a strong reflection of the quality of artistic talent we have in this country."
“Supporting our artists to present their work on an international stage is something I place great importance on, and I’m glad to see that continued through the work of Culture Ireland and the Arts Council."
“I wish Isabel, Georgina Jackson and all involved every success in Venice and look forward to seeing ‘Dreamshook’ reach audiences from around the world.”
Ireland at Venice 2026 will build on Ireland’s strong presence at the La biennale di Venezia. In recent years, Ireland has been represented by Eimear Walshe in an exhibition curated by Sara Greavu and Project Arts Centre, and Niamh O’Malley with TBG+.
Dreamshook will be on view at the Irish Pavilion in the Arsenale, during the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, which runs from 9 May to 22 November 2026. Following its presentation in Venice, Dreamshook will tour Ireland in 2027 supported by the Arts Council.