Celebrating 65 years of Graphic Studio Dublin at The Ballinglen Museum of Art.

This special exhibition brings together new works by members of the studio, each reflecting the individual concerns and visual languages that define their practice. Around fifty artists have responded to the invitation, creating new prints unified in scale yet diverse in theme and technique, a testament to the shared spirit and continuing vitality of Ireland’s longest-established fine art print studio.  

Alongside these member works, the exhibition features two new pieces by acclaimed artist Niamh O’Malley, produced at Graphic Studio Dublin under the Visiting Artist Scheme, as well as selected examples from other participating visiting artists. Together, these works celebrate the enduring role of collaboration and  community in contemporary printmaking.

Exhibition works: https://graphicstudiodublin.com/aa-gsd-at-ballinglen/

The exhibition will travel to The Graphic Studio Gallery, Temple Bar from August 8 – September 5, 2026.

 (Image: Susan Early, Blacksod Lighthouse, etching and aquatint, 24x18cm, 2026)

Ade is an Aberdeen based artist whose artwork reflects a deep interest in ecology mixing motifs and symbols which reflect his Nigerian culture, love of landscape and science fiction.

He studied printmaking at Gray’s School of Art, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. He is a Royal Scottish Academician, member of the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, The London Group and a member of the Royal Society of
Painter-printmakers. He has been an Artist in Residence at Eton College and Glasgow Print Studio.

Ade is best known for linocuts, often large scale and with a dreamlike quality which combine striking visual beauty with sharp political and environmental commentary. Working primarily but not exclusively in black and white, he builds densely layered compositions filled with architectural forms, natural elements, and symbolic details. His prints can feel quite theatrical, sometimes monumental, drawing viewers in with their graphic power and the complex narratives beneath the surface. His technical precision reflects a deep respect for traditional printmaking, while his imagery stays distinctly contemporary.

Much of Ade’s work explores themes of ecological destruction, colonial history, and the role of museums and institutions in shaping cultural memory. He has often used satire and irony to question how nature is controlled, displayed, or exploited, particularly through Western systems of power. Animals, plants, and landscapes in his prints are rarely passive; instead, they appear entangled in human structures, suggesting tension between preservation and domination. Through this approach, Ade positions printmaking not just as a visual practice, but as a critical tool for examining history, responsibility, and indeed the future of the natural world.

The exhibition with open on Friday the 15th of May from 7pm-9pm, and will continue until Saturday the 25th of July.

Ade will be talking about his work and showing examples of some plates and working materials on Saturday 16th May at 2pm.

(Image: Cradle…,Linocut,82.5cm-102.5, 2022) 

The last Monday of the month, September 2025 to May 2026, 1–1:30pm
NIVAL Reading Room, NCAD, Dublin 8.

Lunchtime talk series given by Eve Parnell

NIVAL is pleased to present a series of lunchtime talks on the last Monday of the month. Each will focus on a different aspect of our vast collections – come by to see a sample of what materials we hold and how we could support your studies, research project or inspiration for artwork.

We ask that visitors do not bring food or drink into the Reading Room during these sessions.

Haven’t visited NIVAL before? Find directions and a map to help you find us on the NCAD campus.

NIVAL gratefully acknowledges the support of the Arts Council of Ireland.

There is no specific Call for submission to work in Art Print Residence. We are open all year on a first come, first served basis. So book in advance and be sure there is space to accommodate you and your project.

Residency period:

minimum 1 week – maximum 3 months

In case the artist needs a longer period to develop his project we can study this possibility.

The artists in residence must live in the apartment during the residency.