Artist Isabel Nolan will represent Ireland at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026 with an exhibition titled 'Dreamshook' in the Arsenale. Her presentation will feature a room of tapestries, sculptures, and drawings, inspired by late Medieval European humanist thinkers who questioned inherent human goodness and sought meaning in earthly life.
Nolan's work connects to the Biennale's theme 'In Minor Keys' through its focus on fundamental human emotions and the interplay of beauty and tragedy. She reflects on the national pavilion's role in an era of rising nationalism, suggesting it should explore difference without opposition, and highlights the Biennale's enduring importance as a cumulative cultural event that fosters unexpected connections between artworks and artists.