Aosdána, the affiliation of creative artists in Ireland, has elected four new members at its 44th General Assembly in the Law Society of Ireland at Blackhall Place, including Clare-born artist Ailbhe Ní Bhriain. This brings the membership to 249 members.
Aosdána, founded in 1981, honours artists whose work has made an outstanding contribution to the creative arts in Ireland, and assists members in devoting their energies fully to their art.
Membership of Aosdána, which is by peer nomination and election, is limited to 250 living artists, who have produced a distinguished body of work. The membership includes creative artists working in a wide range of disciplines including architecture, choreography, music, literature and visual art.
Ailbhe Ní Bhriain, born in Co. Clare in 1978 works with film, computer generated imagery and installation to conjure scenarios of dreamlike hybridity. She received her MA from the Royal College of Art, London and a PhD from Kingston University, UK. Her work has shown widely since 2004, with exhibitions at RHA, Dublin; Broad Museum, Michigan; Whitechapel Gallery, London; Paris Photo; Hammer Museum, LA; Istanbul Modern, Turkey; and Reina Sofia Museum, Madrid among others. In 2020 Ní Bhriain was awarded the overall Golden Fleece Award and shortlisted to represent Ireland at the 59th Venice Biennale. She is represented by Domobaal Gallery, London.
A minute’s silence was held in memory of the passing of former Aosdána members Margaretta D’Arcy, Anne Madden, Richard Gorman, Gabriel Rosenstock and Vincent Browne, all of whom have died since the 43rd General Assembly in September 2025.
Each year the members meet for a General Assembly, to elect new members and to agree matters of policy and procedure, as well as review the various activities of Aosdána and discuss issues relevant to the arts and artists in society.
The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon is the national agency for funding, developing and promoting the arts in Ireland. It works to ensure that the arts are valued and central to Irish life. Through advocacy, investment and partnership, the Arts Council supports artists, arts organisations and communities to engage with and enjoy the arts. The Arts Council was established in 1951 and operates under the Arts Act 2003. For more information, visit www.artscouncil.ie.