In celebration of the 80^th anniversary of the foundation of the Kilkenny Art Gallery Society, as the Butler Gallery was first known, an exhibition highlighting new acquisitions and important donations to our Permanent Collection will take place alongside new long-term loans to the gallery. Since 1943 the Collection has continued to flourish through gift, loan and purchase embracing a variety of disciplines and genres from painting, drawing and printmaking, to sculpture, photography and video.

Butler Gallery has always sought to be a platform for presenting the best of Irish art today along with demonstrating a strong commitment to presenting work by artists of international repute. Our expanding collection has sought to reflect the constantly changing nature of visual art practice and the range of media used in the making of contemporary art today.

The particular selection on view will include many works either purchased or donated by artists that have exhibited in the gallery over the past twenty years. It will also include a commissioned response on the concept of ‘collection’ from performance artist Suzanne Walsh. In addition, Poetry Encounters – a special series of artist-poet readings and discussions, is presented in association with Poetry Ireland to mark this significant anniversary.

The exhibition features an eclectic range of works by artists Peter Bradley, Michael Beirne, Edward Delaney, Flor Garduño, Vera Klute, Sinéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Tony O’Malley, Gypsy Ray, Emma Roche, Blaise Smith and many others. A film programme of works in the Collection by Bridget O’Gorman, Trish McAdam and Mary Reid Kelley and Patrick Kelley will be featured throughout the run of the exhibition in our Digital Gallery.

Curated by Anna O’Sullivan, Butler Gallery Director

Exclusive 80th Anniversary Exhibition Behind-the-Scenes Tour:

Friends of Butler Gallery are invited to a special behind-the-scenes walk-through of the 80th Anniversary Collection Exhibition with Anna O’Sullivan, Exhibition Curator and Butler Gallery Director. You will hear about how the collection has developed over the decades and gain insights into new acquisitions over the past twenty years.

80th Anniversary Exhibition Behind-the-scenes Tour for Butler Gallery Friends
Saturday 25th March, 4-6pm
R.S.V.P by 5pm, Thursday 16th March, to events@butlergallery.ie • Become a Friend of Butler Gallery

Film Programme:

Bridget O’Gorman
Sometimes The House Of The Future Is Better Built, 2013
February 11 – 26

Trish McAdam
RoughTime – Wave Edition, 2012
February 28 – March 12

Mary Reid Kelley & Patrick Kelley
In the Body of the Sturgeon, 2017
March 14 – April 2

Poetry Encounters

A special series of artist-poet, readings and discussions, presented in association with Poetry Ireland to mark this special anniversary. Join us for these poetry encounters in which artists whose work features in Butler Gallery’s 80^th Anniversary Collection Exhibition share and exchange insights into their own work with poets. The poets, also sharing their work through reading, will engage with the artist to explore the work on show and the visual influences on their own writing. Wednesday 22 February – Wednesday 22 March; more here.