Art Riddler
Art Riddler 2026 kicked off with a crowded opening evening at One Charlemont Square in Dublin. Spread across two expertly curated floors, the exhibition drops a pin on Irish contemporary art, delivering fearless work that embraces experimentation, emotion and individuality. From emerging voices to established names, Art Riddler continues to champion artists willing to push boundaries and resist convention.
Robyn Daly’s new work Blue Heat made a first appearance. Using a 23-second slow exposure she continues to stretch the language of photography into an expressive, painterly form.
“I tend not to think of my work as photography, it’s a performance using light, time and movement to offer a new way of describing the female body and new considerations of what photography is.” said Daly.
She also reflected on a recurring conversation among artists at this year’s exhibition: the growing impact of artificial intelligence on creative practice.
“Many of the artists I met at the Art Riddler are concerned about what AI means for their practice. If art and creativity are at the essence of our humanity, the advent and growing prevalence of AI is a challenge for us to bring our uniqueness into our technique and work.”
Blue Heat - Giclée Archival Print on PhotoRag. 1/10
Art Riddler continues to grow in significance within the Irish art world. A recent 2026 profile in The Irish Times revealed more about the anonymous founder behind the project — a masked patron who began the initiative in 2021 following personal tragedy and has since funded the exhibitions independently while allowing artists to retain 100 per cent of sales proceeds. Over four years, participating artists have reportedly earned more than €250,000 through the platform.
What began as a grassroots alternative to traditional gallery structures has evolved into a major annual event, known for supporting artists outside institutional gatekeeping. The Art Riddler’s anonymous and emotionally driven approach has resonated strongly within Dublin’s changing cultural landscape, particularly at a moment when artists continue to face shrinking studio spaces and rising costs across the city.
With nearly 100 artists exhibiting this year, Art Riddler 2026 feels less like an outsider project now and more like an essential fixture in Ireland’s contemporary art calendar — one that prioritises accessibility, experimentation and direct connection between artists and audiences.
Art Riddler runs from 28th to 31st May at One Charlemont Square Dublin.
