Rachel Coyne's Shift from Vernacular to Silence in New Paintings

Irish artist Rachel Coyne, known for her 2023 series reimagining the biblical story of Susanna and the Elders with Hiberno-English retorts, has moved to a new body of work in 2026 that abandons speech entirely. Her earlier paintings, such as 'Eyeroll' and 'Would Ya Go Awaayy', gave Susanna a defiant voice, using phrases like 'Yiz' and 'SIck of these Lads' to mock the Elders. By 2024, works like 'Delilah & Samson' and 'A Study of Artemisia' continued this satirical approach. However, her 2026 paintings, titled in Irish (e.g., 'Sléacht' meaning slaughter, 'Foréigean' meaning violence, 'An Cogadh Oighir', 'Ag Lorg Cabhrach' meaning seeking help, 'Mná Suaite' meaning troubled women), depict dissolving figures, reflecting the silenced voices of women in war. Coyne uses a palette of Venetian and Indian reds, indigo, and Caput Mortuum violet, chosen for historical and symbolic weight. She is one of five finalists for the 2026 ACS Studio Prize, with the shortlist exhibition at Gurr Johns in St James's from 22nd to 25th September 2026, and the winner announced at the opening night. The prize is £6,000 for studio rent. Coyne's work has evolved from giving women a voice to performing the act of silencing on the viewer, a shift that critics see as a powerful commentary on the erasure of women's experiences.