Revealed: Ireland's must-see art exhibitions this summer

Des O'Sullivan beats the heat by escaping into the vibrant venues showcasing the coolest art displays of the season 

Meadhbh O'Connor's 'Infinity Loops' at 11 Parnell Square. Picture: Colin Shanahan, Digicol

When the heatwave makes life outdoors too much, how about finding hot art in cool galleries? 

There is much to feast the eyes on and plenty of food for thought at exhibitions up and down the country right now.

VI Decades is the title of a newly opened show by Tim Goulding at Taylor Galleries in Dublin. The painter, poet and musician, who has based himself near Allihies on the Beara Peninsula since 1969, has long worked in series, so a survey of six decades is of great interest. Goulding has exhibited extensively in Ireland, the UK, Portugal and the US. The show runs until August 22.

Variety is the hallmark of the summer exhibition just underway at the Lavit Gallery in Cork. This group show offers painting, print, photography and craft. Up to 40 artists and makers are involved, including Tom Climent, John Behan, Debbie Dawson, Victor Richardson, Rachel Joynt, Billy Foley and Johnny Bugler. You can catch it until August 29.

Tom Climent's 'Promiseful Journey' at the Lavit Gallery.

Quantum Listening by Trudi van der Elsen at the Limerick City Gallery until August 30 is the arresting title of a show by the multimedia artist from the Netherlands now based in the west of Ireland. The work explores the relationship between the human body and the wider world and the invisible frequencies that connect them.

Working across painting, photography, video and performance, the artist weaves forms of matter, agency, subjectivity and objectivity.

The seasonal programme at Lismore Castle Arts runs until October 25. Salon is a show of 40 paintings staged in a theatrical mise-en-scène throughout the gallery space.

Trudi van der Elsen's 'Root System' at the Limerick City Gallery of Art.

There is art by Stephen McKenna, Na Kim, Lisa Brica, Andrew Cranston, Elizabeth Magill, Adam Keay, Merlin James, Karen Barbour and others in a salon-like hang accompanied by an informal gathering of chairs which visitors are encouraged to use.

Summer in Dublin at the Kerlin Gallery offers art by Dorothy Cross, Isabel Nolan, Sean Scully, Liliane Tomasko, Zhou Li, Guggi, Mark Francis, Callum Innes, Nathalie du Pasquier and more until August 22.

The works at Mycelium by Kate O’Shea at Visual in Carlow weave through contexts in Ireland, Scotland, Australia, Palestine and other places where her network extends. Textiles gathered during her recent time in Western Australia, hand-printed at Cork Printmakers, form an installation in the main gallery that marks some of her concerns, like land, imperialism and networks of solidarities.

The Future is Open, which marks the 20th anniversary of Solstice Arts Centre in Navan, is a celebration of future possibilities.

Alternative environments and future realities are presented through a cross-section of photography, film, sculptural installation and painting in an exhibition that continues until August 29. There is work by acclaimed artists including Grace Weir, Willie Doherty, Sibyl Montague, Bernadette Kiely, and Isabel Nolan.

Tim Goulding's '4 Step' at Taylor Galleries.

A spectacular new artwork by Meadhbh O’Connor has been unveiled at 11 Parnell Square, Dublin, Ireland’s new home for poetry and heritage.

Funded through the Per Cent for Art scheme, Infinity Loops forms the dramatic centrepiece at the double-height entrance to the historic Georgian building. 

Meadhbh O'Connor's 'Infinity Loops' at 11 Parnell Square. Picture: Colin Shanahan, Digicol

Interlinked loops trace endless figure-eight pathways inspired by Celtic knotwork, wrought-iron detailing and the architectural language of the building. Changing with the light throughout the day, the sculpture casts shifting colour, reflection and movement through the building.

This small sample of what can be seen this summer demonstrates how vibrant, challenging and open to new ideas mainstream art in Ireland has become. Change is happening rapidly all around us. The increased visual awareness it brings is everywhere on view.