Official Launch by Frances Fitzgerald, T.D., Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, 4.30pm on Wednesday 13 November

Pictiúr, an exhibition of work by leading Irish children’s book illustrators, concludes its successful Irish tour when it opens at the Irish Museum of Modern Art on 14 November 2013. Pictiúr is the largest single exhibition of Irish children’s book illustration ever assembled, curated by Laureate na nÓg, Niamh Sharkey, the exhibition features 42 pieces by 21 illustrators, from books written in English and Irish, including illustrators Oliver Jeffers, P.J. Lynch, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick and Steve Simpson.

For its showing at IMMA the exhibition will also present a selection of videos exploring the world and practice of many of the illustrators, their sketchbooks, three-dimensional works and family friendly reading pods for those who wish to escape into the world of the illustrators and the featured books. A busy series of events is also planned these include a book clinic where parents and children can meet a Book Doctor who can offer the best advice for young readers; a panel discussion with artists and illustrators on the place of illustration within contemporary art; poetry readings with poets who feature in the O’Brien Press anthology Something Beginning with P; and a Pictiúr Family Day which will open up the wondrous world of literature and visual arts to all the family!

Commenting on the exhibition at IMMA, Laureate na nÓg, Niamh Sharkey said ‘We were thrilled and excited to be concluding our Irish tour at IMMA. This is the home of the best of contemporary art and we are delighted to showcase this wonderful work by some of our leading artists. The exhibition will allow us to demonstrate the range, scope and skill of Irish illustrators, whose work is world class. We are very grateful to the Arts Council and IMMA for their support in making this possible.’

Illustrators included are Lily Bernard, Alan Clarke, Michael Emberley, Tatiana Feeney, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, Adrienne Geoghegan, Olivia Golden, Chris Haughton, Paul Howard, Oliver Jeffers, Anita Jeram, Chris Judge, PJ Lynch, Oisin McGann, Mary Murphy, Donough O’Malley, Niamh Sharkey, Steve Simpson, Kevin Waldron, Olwyn Whelan and Andrew Whitson.

IMMA are delighted to be co-curating the final stage of this touring exhibition. Pictiúr toured to Europe earlier this year as part of the Culture Connects International Culture Programme to celebrate Ireland’s Presidency of the European Council. It was seen by more than 25,000 people in four countries. It was also shown in Draíocht Arts Centre in Blanchardstown and the Galway Arts Centre as part of the Baboró Children’s Festival. A film of the European tour can be seen at http://youtu.be/qzL4j6n8tow.

The Irish tour is supported by the Arts Council’s Touring and Dissemination Scheme.

Pictiúr opens at IMMA on 14 November 2013 and continues until 12 January 2014. The exhibition is located in the vaulted area approaching and within the IMMA Café itsa @imma.