About the Nissan Art Project

The Nissan Art Project was established in 1997 in association with the Irish Museum of Modern Art. The project was created through the desire to provide meaningful and financial support for artists working in Ireland. Nissan Art Projects included neon texts from Molly Bloom’s Ulysses monologue in nine city centre locations by Frances Hegarty and Andrew Stones (1997); the memorable Ghost Ship by Dorothy Cross (1998) and Dan Shipsides’ Bamboo Scaffolding (2000) at the Carlton Cinema, Dublin.

In 2002, The Nissan Art Project changed its focus and was taken behind the walls of The Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin. At this point, the project aimed to give painters in their mid-career the opportunity to receive their own exhibition and catalogue in the splendid RHA gallery. 2002 saw the work of John Noel Smith, a Berlin-based Irish painter which was followed by an exhibition by Barrie Cooke in 2003. In 2004, the Nissan Art Project was represented by Martin Gale, culminating with an exhibition of work by Stephen McKenna in 2005.

This year the Nissan Art Project once again re-directs its focus to emerging artists. Paul McKinley is the first artist in this series, McKinley’s exhibition entitled Farewell Chestnut Avenue, was exhibited in the RHA from Friday 16th March - April 22nd.

You can read more about Paul McKinley's exhibition in the News section, or by clicking here to read the full story.