Announcing the inaugural exhibition at the International Centre for the Image

Launch 7pm Thu 17 July 2025
Running 18 July-14 September 2025
Entry Free but RSVP essential
Location International Centre for the Image, Cultural Unit, Block 2, Coopers Cross, Dublin 1

Participating artists: Abigail O'Brien, Alan Butler, Alex Prager, Ana Zibelnik & Jakob Ganslmeier, Anna Ehrenstein, Anna Safiatou Touré, Basil Al-Rawi, Bassam Issa Al-Sabah & Jennifer Mehigan, Colin Martin, David Farrell, Dominic Hawgood, Eamonn Doyle, Jean Curran, Mishka Henner, and Penelope Umbrico.

Curated by Ángel Luis González Fernández and Julia Gelezova, Foreword presents works by 17 artists brought together in conversation to underline the curatorial concerns that the new International Centre for the Image will be dedicated to: the critical role of the still and moving image in arts discourse and for contemporary society. Foreword includes several new works exhibited for the first time.

The selection of works presents a conversation around the complex dynamics within technology and image making, the politics of representation, and arts practice. The exhibition offers a rich diversity of narratives and artistic approaches through installation, photography, and video works.

Image: © Alex Prager. Film Still from Run (2022). Courtesy Alex Prager Studio and Lehmann Maupin, New York, Seoul, and London. International Centre for the Image, 2025.

Artists Announced for New Irish Works 2025

PhotoIreland announces the names of the ten artists selected by an international jury for New Irish Works 2025, out of the large pool of projects submitted to the open call:

• Austin Hearne, Slabs
• Billy Kenrick, The Very End of Everything
• Ciara Richardson, How would you like it to happen to you?
• Debbie Castro, Age is a privilege, unless you forget!
• Dorje De Burgh, Now is the Time
• Emily O’Connell, and then I ran
• Garry Loughlin, What Makes An Island?
• Kate Nolan, The Cut Tells its Own Tale
• Mandy O’Neill, Best Laid Plans
• Miriam O’Connor, Fox=Cow

During 2025-27, PhotoIreland provides a structured programme to contribute to the professional development of the participating artists.

Image: Emi O’Connell, and then I ran

Call for Volunteers: International Centre for the Image launch

PhotoIreland launches the International Centre for the Image on the 17th July with an international visual arts exhibition. The launch will be accompanied by a 2-day event programme 18-19th July.

We are looking for enthusiastic and reliable volunteers to join the Launch Team for the dates of 17-19th July. Joining the team is a great way to experience behind the scenes of the organisation and management of an arts event, to make your contribution, as well as offering a great opportunity to engage with new people and professionals. If you have an interest in contemporary art, event management, and want to learn from behind the scenes of an ambitious arts organisation, we want to hear from you! 

Deadline to apply: 6pm Friday 27th June 2025

Book launch at The Library Project:
Fantasy Island

Join us at The Library Project 6-8pm Thursday 5th June for the official book launch of Fantasy Island, the latest publication by Rotten Books.

Fantasy Island offers a comprehensive exploration of the last 50 years of Irish photography, featuring the work of 70 Irish artists. The publication takes a stripped-back approach, prioritising the strength of the imagery to produce a bold and compelling book that provides a fresh perspective on Ireland.

Curated by a generation born after the cease-fire and the Good Friday Agreement, Fantasy Island moves beyond The Troubles to explore Ireland’s cultural and social landscape in its entirety. It highlights overlooked aspects of Irish life, embodying a hopeful vision for the future while acknowledging a past shaped by violence and sorrow.

You can order your copy in advance or on the night.

Do you know what PhotoIreland does?

PhotoIreland grows the reputation of Irish artists globally through a 360 degree support system and platform for contemporary photography, activated through a diversity of projects. These include events such as PhotoIreland Festival and Halftone print fair amongst others; resources such as the PhotoIreland Collection, a specialised research library of photobooks, and Ireland’s Art Bookshop, The Library Project; via publishing with projects such as OVER Journal and TLP Editions; professional development support through networking and consultancy opportunities; and empowering early and mid-career photographers via our international partnerships, most relevantly through Creative Europe co-funded platforms such as FUTURES and Parallel.

Find out more about PhotoIreland at photoireland.org
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