Isabel Nolan to Present Ireland's Pavilion at 61st Venice Biennale with Exhibition 'Dreamshook'

Isabel Nolan has been selected to represent Ireland at the 61st Venice Biennale, which will take place from May 9 to November 22, 2026. Her presentation, titled 'Dreamshook', will be installed in the Arsenale section of the event and will feature a collection of tapestries, sculptures, and drawings. Nolan's work draws inspiration from late medieval European humanism, particularly examining how thinkers during periods of crisis questioned traditional beliefs about human goodness and earthly life. She expresses specific interest in a Venetian printer from the 1490s who pioneered portable book formats and combined commercial success with intellectual dissemination. When asked about the Biennale's theme 'In Minor Keys', Nolan noted appreciation for its focus on fundamental human experiences rather than urgent demands. She views the Venice Biennale as an accumulating cultural event where past iterations inform present exhibitions, and described national pavilions as platforms that reveal economic disparities in arts funding alongside providing visibility. Nolan mentioned artists James Coleman and William McKeown as significant Irish figures, and commented on Ireland's arts funding system, noting that its basic income scheme for artists reaches only a small portion through lottery selection. She observed that Irish art often reflects proximity to nature and community influences, while acknowledging constraints like material costs foster inventive sculptural practices. Nolan rejects the notion of universal languages in art, suggesting even intimate human experiences lack true universality. Beyond her exhibition, she looks forward to swimming and sharing Italian meals with friends during the Biennale.