Celebrating 150 Years : The Dublin Painting and Sketching Club

For a century and a half, “Dublin: Then and Now” has been a subject often visited for artistic inspiration by members of the Dublin Painting and Sketching Club. This theme will once again be explored in our latest exhibition, taking place at the Cowshed Gallery, Farmleigh from the 4th to the 19th of May 2024.

Since its inception in 1874, Dublin Painting and Sketching Club’s artists have drawn from the vibrant landscapes, bustling streets, seascapes, and the inhabitants of Dublin and the surrounding areas. This exhibition will not only honour this rich tradition but also bridge past and present, connecting today’s artist members with the club’s visionary founders.

From its beginnings in Westland Row, the club has grown from a small but distinguished gathering to a much larger and vibrant community of artists. Our annual exhibitions, initiated in 1875, have showcased over 5,000 paintings, with more than 200 works held the National Gallery of Ireland. The club boasts 88 active members who continue to share their vision in the Club’s annual exhibition held at the iconic Town Hall Space, 1 Windmill Lane, Dublin, 2, a stone’s throw from its original meeting place in 1874.

To mark our 150th anniversary, a series of special events, including exhibitions, lectures, plein air painting sessions, and social gatherings are underway. The festivities began with a reception at the Mansion House in February 2024. Hosted by Lord Mayor Dathaí de Róiste, a new “Concise History of the Dublin Painting and Sketching Club” was unveiled and presented to the Lard Mayor.

The celebrations continued with “Shorelines,” an exhibition which took place in March 2024. Held in Dublin Port’s renovated Substation building and sponsored by the Dublin Port Company, this proved to be a very popular and successful exhibition. Showcasing works based on the many coastal communities surrounding our capital city the Club has maintained a connection with the overall theme of earlier events.

We now present our latest exhibition entitled “Dublin: Then and Now” in which Club members will exhibit over 70 works that capture the evolving essence and enduring charm of Dublin and its environs. This exhibition at the Cowshed Gallery, Farmleigh, will run from May 4th to May 19th. Offering a unique opportunity to engage with the artists and their works, this event celebrates a legacy of creativity and community that spans 150 years.
Join us in this momentous year as we pay homage to the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to a future.

Cowshed Gallery, 4th – 19th of May (closed Monday 13th,) 11am – 4pm.