National Irish Visual Arts Library
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Collections

  • A black-and-white photograph of a grand domed gallery space with neoclassical columns and exhibition displays. The exhibition appears to feature works related to Irish painter Jack B. Yeats.
  • Poster depicting two puffins on a cyan background. Text reads 'Ireland'.
  • pair of fluffy lime green Dunlop slippers
  • Eire 10s stamp artwork
  • green fabric sample overlaid on a matching painted background
  • A series of black-and-white photographs showcasing a modular chair system designed by Kilkenny Design Workshops (KDW). The images display different configurations of the wooden and cushioned seating elements.

The National Irish Visual Arts Library (NIVAL) collects, stores and makes accessible for research an unparalleled collection of documentation about Irish art and design from 1900 onwards in all media. Much of the material, amassed over several decades, is unavailable elsewhere.

The collections at NIVAL comprise:

Our remit is to actively collect and preserve materials for the country, for the future. In cataloguing ‘everything but the art’, we have documentation on over 5,500 artists, 1,300 galleries and arts organisations and information on 15,000 exhibitions. NIVAL also has arguably the largest collection of unique and handmade artists’ books in the country with 1500 books catalogued on our website, as well as 170 journal series, 5000 library books and just over 150 special collections and archives.

All materials are reference only and cannot be borrowed. Collection materials are organised into categories by format and subject area to facilitate ease of access and retrieval. NIVAL prioritises public access to the collection, including the provision of our searchable online catalogue. NIVAL is committed to the further development of descriptive finding aids to all aspects of the collection.

Files

NIVAL’s ephemera files contain an unparalleled collection of printed documentation such as invitation cards, press releases, news clippings, brochures, and small-scale catalogues. We recommend researchers visit NIVAL to gain a comprehensive view of the file contents.

Please go to our online catalogue to browse information about our files. For detailed information on search techniques read our guide on how to use the online catalogue. Please see our Contribute page for more information on how we acquire materials for NIVAL.

  • open filing cabinet with Artists' Studios 2019 publication visible
  • A collection of archival materials related to artist Dorothy Cross, including handwritten notes, a postcard featuring a moon with a shark, magazine clippings, and exhibition announcements.
  • A collection of printed reports, booklets, and newspaper clippings related to arts and culture in Ireland, including titles like Provision for the Arts and Paying the Artist.
  • A vintage book cover titled Crafts of Ireland by Louise O’Brien, featuring a collage of traditional Irish crafts including a St. Brigid’s Cross, handwoven crios (belt), pampaootie (leather shoe), and various weaving materials and tools.
  • A vintage hardcover book titled Twelve Nights at the Abbey Theatre by Grace Plunkett. The cover features a muted blue design with a cream-coloured spine and a decorative-bordered title label in the centre. The book shows signs of wear, indicating its age.
  • Cover of a journal titled 'Ireland of the Welcomes' from 1974 features an image of a person working on a large loom. The loom is in the foreground of the image with multiple spools of thread in various colours.
  • A spread of four issues of the Irish Arts Review magazine on a blue background.

Journals and Books

The NIVAL collection of printed books, journals and catalogues is the most comprehensive library collection of published titles pertaining to Irish art and design in Ireland. The more than 5,000 books and catalogues and approximately 170 journal series can be searched on the catalogue of the Edward Murphy Library. It is important to note that the library catalogue only lists books and journals – please use NIVAL’s separate online catalogue to search our file listings. Please see our Contribute page for more information on how we acquire materials for NIVAL.

Artists’ Books

NIVAL holds arguably the largest collection of publicly accessible artists’ books in Ireland with 1,500 items listed in our online catalogue. We continue to make progress in updating artists’ book records with associated photographs. If you are an artist and would like to add your book to the collection at NIVAL, please get in touch via nivalinfo@ncad.ie and please see our Contribute page for more information on how we acquire materials for NIVAL.

  • An intricate, sculptural artist's book with folded, textured black and white pages, partially opened with purple ribbon ties.
  • colourful folded paper artwork
  • people handling colourful artist books on an archive table
  • detail from a page with a drawing of a pidgeon in green and blue with some text in French.
  • people handling artist books on an archive table
  • wooden artist book with pages spread open
  • A small folded book design is open showing one side with a black and white image of a house on black card. The green cover of the book can be seen folded over itself as the book opens.
  • A length of paper-train in the shape of a cross is bound at each end with a semi-circular form. There is writing on the paper that can be read as the book is unfurled.
  • woman sculpting a clay bust in a studio
  • artist palette, palette knives and brushes
  • A sketchbook featuring a drawing of a herd of sheep spread over two pages, with watercolour in brown surrounding the sheep figures in an oval shape
  • A black and white photograph of a person standing beside and under a silver sanctuary lamp in a church. The person appears small in comparison to the large hanging lamp. There is a large black curtain in the background.
  • floral patterned wallpaper sample in a wallpaper sample book

Special Collections and Archives

The NIVAL special collections are groupings of material that form discrete collections or archival material which originated from one source. Special collections can document an artist, arts organisation, art movement, or other specific theme or topic. Artists’ own archives of original sketchbooks, letters, photos and other documentation relating to their art practice are generally considered to be special collections.

NIVAL holds almost 150 special collections which span a range of disciplines, many of which are unique. You can see a full list here – please note that while all special collections are accessible in NIVAL’s Reading Room, not all collections have yet been fully processed. Any particular conditions around a special collection will be explained to you when you make an appointment. We require a minimum of 24 hours’ notice to facilitate access to a special collection. If you are an artist or represent an arts organisation and want to talk to us about depositing your own archive, please get in touch with us via nivalinfo@ncad.ie and see our Contribute page for more information on how we acquire materials for NIVAL.

See also

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