Sculpture in Context  – Announcement
Founded in 1985, Sculpture in Context has spent four decades championing contemporary sculpture in Ireland. The exhibition has provided a unique platform for artists to present ambitious, site-responsive work fostering dialogue between art, nature, and the public.
Sculpture in Context will unfortunately not take place in 2026. The workload and ongoing challenges of delivering the exhibition without secure funding, and on a voluntary basis, have proven unsustainable for the current committee.  In addition, Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union means that the National Botanic Gardens will be required as a venue for international meetings in Autumn 2026.
After careful consideration, the Sculpture in Context committee of  Jackie Ball, William Foley, Lena Willryd, Patricia Donnelly and Mick Fox have made the difficult decision to step down.

Sculpture in Context  – The Future  
An Advisory Committee, established in 2025, have already begun efforts to secure funding and to extend four decades of creativity, collaboration, and public engagement through the presentation of contemporary sculpture from 2027 onwards.
Despite this pause, Sculpture in Context is proud of its 40-year legacy of promoting and supporting sculpture in Ireland and we are confident that this will not be the end of the annual exhibition.
Future exhibitions will not proceed under the current directors, Jackie Ball and William Foley, who have delivered Sculpture in Context on a pro bono basis for 14 years. Their legacy endures through the artists they have supported, the audiences they have reached, and their lasting contribution to contemporary sculpture in Ireland.

40 Years of Sculpture in Context
In 2025, Sculpture in Context celebrated 40 years of supporting generations of Irish and international artists. Over four decades, the exhibition has encouraged experimentation across materials and forms while making sculpture accessible to wide and diverse audiences.
The 2025 exhibition welcomed over 100,000 visitors, including members of the local community, schools and colleges from across the country, immigrant groups, and international visitors. Over five weeks, audiences engaged with a diverse presentation of 90 sculptures set within the unique environment of the National Botanic Gardens and its gallery spaces.
Sculpture in Context extends its sincere gratitude to the artists who submitted over 580 works for consideration in 2025. The selection process sought to ensure inclusion of work of the highest standard, representing established artists, emerging practitioners, and recent graduates.

We wish to thank the participating artists, the OPW, the National Botanic Gardens, all sponsors and our audiences for their continued support.  Your contribution has made 2025—and every year of the exhibition’s history—so special.