Highlanes Gallery - Nora McGuinness : Pioneer

Norah McGuinness: Pioneer
17 November 2026 – 27 February 2027

Highlanes Gallery’s 20th anniversary programme concludes with an historic highlight - a major exhibition celebrating the life and work of 20th century artist, designer and illustrator, Norah McGuinness (1901-1980), who was born 125 years ago on this day, 7^th November 1901.

This exhibition marks the 125th anniversary of McGuinness' birth, and demonstrates varied aspects of her wide-ranging practice - her effortless fluency in colour and composition; her skilled dexterity in commercial, theatrical and literary design - all spanning a prolific and remarkable exhibiting career.

Derry-born McGuinness and Drogheda-born Nano Reid were the first artists to represent Ireland at the 25th Venice Biennale in 1950, and Pioneer includes examples of work by both artists from that shared exhibition, including pieces unseen for many decades.
 
Confirming McGuinness' expansive influence and legacy, the exhibition also includes a number of invited contemporary artists whose conceptual and material concerns both connect and differ, offering exploration and insight linking art past and present, including Diana Copperwhite, Nick Miller, Isabel Nolan, Mairéad O'hEocha and Annette Smyth.

The exhibition and accompanying catalogue are funded by the Arts Council of Ireland, a Department of Culture, Communications & Sport Regional Museums Exhibition Grant and with the generous support of the Creative Arts Foundation of Ireland (CAFI).
 
The exhibition catalogue will include new texts by Dr Róisín Kennedy, Dr Katy Milligan, and Dr Nathan O’Donnell, as well as republishing a text by Dr Fionna Barber.
The exhibition is curated by Aoife Ruane, director of Highlanes Gallery.
The exhibition is produced by Aoife Ruane and Stephen Hodgins.