Oriel Gallery


The Oriel Gallery is a contemporary art gallery in Dublin, Ireland, devoted to selling work by Irish artists. It is Ireland's oldest independent gallery.

History

Established in Dublin by Oliver Nulty in 1968, the title refers to the medieval Kingdom of Oriel, which contained Nulty's hometown of Drogheda. Oriel can also refer to a type of window, or the Welsh word for "gallery." Oliver Nulty commenced his life as an antiques dealer who, in the course of that work noticed Irish visual art was neglected. He collected for years before opening his gallery and famously said the cultural revival in Ireland was "a tale of two cities" whereas Dublin concentrated on literature, art was confined to Belfast. He also noted that visual art in Ireland in the 40s, 50s and 60s was "the Cinderella of Irish culture." Nulty, who spotted a niche put some of the finest pieces of Irish art through his gallery in his hayday, including all the heavyweights such as Yeats and Paul Henry. He produced many fine quality catalogues and had a very special affection for everything to do with Percy French. Nulty created a great market for French and some of the finest Percy French's he sold were snapped up by Irish-Americans. Nulty was the first to mount an Irish Women's Avant-garde exhibition featuring Mainie Jellet, Evie Hone and others which was opened by President Mary Robinson. When Nulty established the Oriel there was no Irish art section in the National Gallery of Ireland.

Associated artists