'Irish Gothic' Patricia Hurl

Patricia Hurl Catalogue

Foreword by Annie Fletcher:

I am pleased to introduce this new publication, which emerges from trish Gothic, a major exhibition celebrating the work of Patricia Hurl, curated by Johanne Mullan. This publication extends the legacy of the exhibition, bringing together critical perspectives and visual documentation that further demonstrate Hurl's key role in Irish and international contemporary art.

It was an honour to present a museum-scale retrospective of Hurl's work in 2023 at IMMA - a landmark moment for the artist and for the Institution.

This exhibition exemplifes the bold and inclusive programming that defines IMMA's mission to champion world-class artistic practice, both Irish and international, and to support artists whose work challenges, provokes, and resonates.

Patricia Hurl's work has never before been seen in such depth and breadth, and this retrospective provides a vital opportunity to recognise and disseminate her singular contribution to contemporary painting.

Hurl's deft, gestural style invites comparisons with artists such as Luc Tuymans, Marlene Dumas, Maria Lassnig, Wilhelm Sasnal, and Andrze) Wroblewski. Her canvases are animated by a haunting simplicity and raw expressive power - each brushstroke charged with meaning. But while her technique resonates with global contemporaries, her subject matter is uniquely grounded in the personal and political experience of life in Ireland.

Her work gives urgent voice to the realities of women in Ireland from the 1980s to the present day - unflinching, evocative, and deeply human.

Bringing together more than 40 years of Hurl's practice for the first time, Irish Gothic has offered a powerful reassessment of her work. Her art is not only painterly but profoundly political - a form of storytelling shaped by memory, feminism, and social critique. The vision and intensity of her brushwork are matched only by the urgency of the narratives she tells.

Irish Gothic subsequently toured to Wexford County Council (2023), South Tipperary Arts Centre, Clonmel (2024), Source Arts Centre, Thurles

2024), and Irish Arts Center, New York (2025).

We are deeply grateful to all those who made this exhibition possible, including our many lenders and partners: Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda;

AerCap, Shannon; Fintan Connolly; Hilary Dully; Rene Lawless; Dr. Abdul Bulbulia; Catherine and Brian O'Halloran; and those who have chosen to remain anonymous.

Special thanks are due to Catherine Marshall, Jennifer Higgie, Fionna Barber, Johanne Mullan and Patricia Hurl for their insightful contributions to this publication, and to the Pollock-Krasner Foundation for their generous support of the publication and Patricia Hurl's wider practice through her Pollock Krasner Award in 2023.

On a personal note I would like to thank all the staff of IMMA for their hard work in making this touring exhibition possible, in particular the Collections Team: Christina Kennedy, Johanne Mullan, Nuria Carballeira, Melissa Viscardi, Anna Jeznach and Letizia Marcattill.

Finally, I offer my sincerest thanks to Patricia Hurl herself, to Therry Rudin, and to their family. Their enduring commitment, generosity, and collaboration have been central to realising this ambitious and timely project.