Enjoy a personal and exclusive introduction to the works of Jack B. Yeats, Louis le Brocquy, Evie Hone, Patrick Scott, Paul Henry and many more, by one of Ireland’s leading Contemporary Art Curators, Anna O’Sullivan. After your personal tour of the Permanent Collections, up to two of your group will have the opportunity to have their portrait sketched by Blaise Smith R.H.A, one of Ireland’s leading figurative painters. Enjoy Champagne and strawberries as you watch the artist at his easel, creating a work of art before your eyes. The portrait will be yours to take home as a memento of your special Irish Art Experience in Kilkenny.
NB: Your portrait can also be framed and shipped after the experience. For art lovers this is an experience that simply cannot be matched.
More about Anna O'Sullivan
Prior
to joining the Butler Gallery in 2005, Anna spent over twenty years in
New York where she enjoyed the position of Director of Robert Miller
Gallery. Anna has worked with many internationally-renowned artists and
artist estates during her career including Alice Neel, Eva Hesse, Lee
Krasner, Patti Smith, Mary Reid Kelley & Patrick Kelley, Fischli
& Weiss, Michael Snow, Bob and Roberta Smith, Hans Op de Beeck, Ian
Burns, Louise Bourgeois, Werner Herzog, Tony O’Malley and many more. In
2021 Anna was the recipient of the Royal Hibernian Academy for her
contribution to visual the arts in Ireland. Anna was the Commissioner
and Curator of the Irish Pavilion at the 55th Venice Biennale with
Richard Mosse as the artist representing Ireland In 2013.
More about Blaise Smith
Blaise is a member of the
Royal Hibernian Academy and has been commissioned to paint many notable
portraits of leading figures from Irish politics, arts and academia. He
has
exhibited widely in Ireland and abroad and has won many awards including
the BP
Award at the National Portrait
Gallery, London and the Irish Arts Review Portrait Prize. Blaise
currently teaches advanced oil painting
techniques, drawing and composition at the Royal Irish Academy Drawing
School
where he is Vice Principal. He lives in County Kilkenny.
Tour Details
- Duration: 3 hours
- Up to two members of the group will have their portrait sketched, as the remaining party watch the portrait develop while chatting to Blaise Smith.
- This highly entertaining and engaging experience takes place during normal opening hours.
- Your portrait can also be framed and shipped after the experience.
For price and booking information, please contact [email protected] t. 00 353 (0)56 776 1106



