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One twist to this year’s annual Turner exhibition at the National Gallery of Ireland is the inclusion of artists who found inspiration in Turner.  The January show of the 31 watercolours by the master in our national collection is like a meeting of old friends after a two year gap.

The pictures were in Scotland last year when, to mark the 250th anniversary of Turner’s birth in 1775, the National Gallery exchanged their Turner’s with the National Galleries of Scotland. Both institutions benefitted from the generous bequest of wealthy English collector Henry Vaughan who stipulated that the delicate watercolours could be displayed only in January when natural light in these parts is at its lowest.  So they are now out of storage until the end of the month.

The exhibition – titled Turner as Inspiration – is enriched by the inclusion of watercolours and prints by artists who found inspiration in Turner’s mastery of light, colour, and atmosphere. Works by Hercules Brabazon (1821-1906), William Callow (1812-1908), John Faulkner (1835-1894) and James H. Burgess (1819-1890) highlight Turner’s influence, while Irish artists Jennifer Lane (b.1952) and Niall Naessens (b.1961) pay homage to his enduring legacy. Together, these works underscore how Turner continues to inspire new artistic generations.

Bequeathed in 1900 the Turner watercolours have been displayed every year since 1901 with the notable exception of the pandemic year of 2021 and 2025.  Another good reason to visit our national collection right now is the fascinating Picasso: From the Studio exhibition which runs until February 22. The show, in collaboration with the Musée national Picasso Paris, places Picasso  in the context of his studios and highlights the various phases of his art and life. Key locations are explored, from his arrival in Paris at the start of the 20th century to his studio in Mougins in the South of France, are explored. 

2026 promises to be another blockbuster year at the gallery with an ambitious and diverse line-up that brings some of the world’s most visionary artists into dialogue across centuries, mediums and movements. From the poetic mysticism of William Blake (1757–1827) and the spiritual abstraction of Hilma af Klint (1862–1944) to the theatrical storytelling of Jan Steen (1626–1679), a year of extraordinary art encounters is in store.

The artist and poet Blake was a defining force in Romanticism.  William Blake: The Age of Romantic Fantasy curated by Tate in partnership with the National Gallery runs from April 16 to July 19.  From Rembrandt to Matisse – A Celebration of European Prints and Drawings runs from June 27 to November 8 in celebration of Ireland’s presidency of the EU Council. Hilma af Klint is recognised as one of Europe’s foremost abstract painters and is one of Sweden’s most celebrated modern artists.  An exhibition of paintings, drawings and watercolours developed in partnership with the Hilma af Klint Foundation, some of which have never been exhibited opens on October 15 and runs until February 7, 2027.

Marking the 400th anniversary of his birth Jan Steen: Sacred and Profane runs from November  21 to  April 25, 2027. One of the leading painters of the 17th century he is renowned  for his ability to capture the variety and humour of human nature, Steen’s work extends beyond the chaotic genre scenes for which he is best known, encompassing exquisitely painted religious narratives, portraits, and high-society scenes.