14 of the Best Art Museums and Galleries in Dublin
If you are a fan of art museums and galleries, Dublin is the place to be. The city has multiple wonderful art galleries that represent multiple art movements, styles, and mediums. There are also lots of wonderful artists based in Dublin, allowing you to see what is trending in the art world right now. From renaissance art to modern art to Irish art, there are art museums and galleries for you.
National Gallery
The National Gallery is a great place to start when it comes to galleries in Ireland. While it has a diverse collection, it focuses on European and Irish art. Featuring pieces from Yeats, Renoir, Barry, and Monet, this gallery has something for everyone. They have an expansive collection of paintings, stained glass, drawings, sketches, sculptures, and more, making this museum a must-see for all art lovers.
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Hugh Lane Gallery
The Hugh Lane Gallery, formerly known as the Municipal Gallery of Modern Art, is home to a vast collection of modern and contemporary Irish art, as well as art from all around the world. It was named after Hugh Lane, who founded the gallery in 1908. Featuring pieces from Manet, Degas, and Monet, the Hugh Lane Gallery is the place to be for impressionism and modern art at large.
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Chester Beatty Museum
The Chester Beatty Museum houses the collection of Chester Beatty, a mining magnate who spent time collecting manuscripts, textiles and other art from Europe and Asia. Beatty left this massive collection to the Irish nation, who opted for the pieces to go into a museum for all to see. If you are interested in Asian textiles, papyrus manuscripts, or Japanese and European prints, you have to visit this museum.
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Irish Museum of Modern Art IMMA
The Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) is Dublin’s modern and contemporary art hub. This museum showcases a wide range of artists, mediums, styles, and movements, this museum has something for everybody. While many people say they dislike modern art, this museum has a wide array of photography, drawings, paintings, and sculptures, so everyone should find something they like here. Featuring pieces from renowned artists like Annie Leibovitz, Louise Bourgeois, and Lucian Freud, this museum is a modern art fan’s dream come true!
Douglas Hyde Gallery
The Douglas Hyde Gallery is another modern and contemporary art museum featuring innovative exhibits and artists. It is based in Trinity College and highlights what is new and innovative in the modern art scene. They also host artist talks, music sessions, and film screenings, making this museum an epicenter for art in Dublin.
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Merrion Square Art
The Merrion Square open-air art gallery is hosted every Sunday on the outside railings of Georgian Square, right across the street from the National Gallery. They host an array of local artists selling their paintings, drawings, and more. Whether you are looking to buy a piece or just browsing, this gallery is a wonderful way to learn more about the local art scene, from the local artists themselves.
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The People’s Art Gallery
The People’s Art Gallery is another open-air art gallery hosted on the outside railings of St. Stephen’s Green. Like the Merrion Square gallery, this display features lots of local artists selling their art, but you are welcome to just browse as well! These open air art galleries are great ways to support local artists, and get a piece that others have never seen before.
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Temple Bar Gallery + Studios
The Temple Bar Gallery + Studios is an art studio complex and contemporary gallery in the heart of Dublin’s Temple Bar neighborhood. The studios house artists in all stages of their careers, and the gallery introduces international audiences visiting the city to great contemporary Irish art. Whether you want to see art from up and coming artists or from artists at the top of their game, Temple Bar Gallery + Studios is a must on any art fans list.
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National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
If design arts are more your thing, you have come to the right place. The National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History museum is home to weaponry, furniture, glassware, ceramics, costume, and more. Its military history collection also discusses Ireland’s revolutionary past. If you are a history buff as well as an art buff, or are more interested in the art in everyday items as opposed to the paintings and sculptures in traditional art museums and galleries, you have to stop in this extensive museum.
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Kevin Kavanagh Gallery
The Kevin Kavanagh Gallery is an independent gallery showcasing contemporary art. They house art from Irish and international artists alike. Founded by gallerist Kevin Kavanagh, this gallery focuses on sharing art with a meaningful message, and they host talks with the artists to drive the meaning of the art home. If you like art that has something to say, the Kevin Kavanagh gallery is a must see.
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Rua Red
Rua Red is a contemporary art gallery featuring two galleries, a cinema, music rooms, a dance studio and more, making this a must see no matter which art medium is your favorite. They also house studios and offer residencies to nurture artists spending time in Dublin. While you are there, be sure to stop in their cafe to get a delicious coffee and snack!
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A4 Sounds
A4 Sounds is an artist-run non-profit workspace and gallery based in north Dublin. Following “feminist, anti-racist, anti-capitalist, and LGBT-inclusive politics”, the art showcased in this gallery has something to say. The art is very contemporary and modern, and every piece has a bigger story or message behind it. If you want to see art that makes you think, this is the gallery for you.
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Wilton Gallery
The Wilton Gallery is a contemporary art gallery showcasing paintings, prints, and sculptures. Their goal is to attract new audiences and introduce them to Irish and international artists. The gallery exhibits original pieces from their artists and deals them as well, so if you see anything you like, you can actually take it home if you wish.
The Trinity Gallery
The Trinity Gallery was founded in 2015, right in the center of Dublin’s museum district. Their goal is to make browsing art a more welcoming experience: less stiff and more friendly. They showcase more traditional art styles, but they have some contemporary sculptures as well. If other art museums and galleries are too stiff for you, this one should be more your speed.
Dublin has many great art museums and galleries for you to discover Irish and international art, no matter your favorite medium, style, or movement. Which of these art museums and galleries will you visit during your time in Dublin? Let us know in the comments below!
