Polly Maher
Visual Artist
Polly Maher was born in Wexford, Ireland in 1998.
Education
MFA in Painting and Drawing, Hochschule für Bildende Künste Hamburg. 2022 - 2024. Grade: 1,0 (First Class Honours equivalent)
BA Joint Honours in Fine Art and Education, National College of Art and Design, Dublin. 2017 - 2021. Grade: First Class Honours
Exhibitions - Solo and Two Person Shows
2026 (Upcoming) Yellow As Butter, Wexford Library. Curated in collaboration with Tom Mooney for Wexford Opera Festival
2025 For the Living, D’Lush Wexford Arts Centre, Wexford
2023 Stagnant, a two person show with Cathy McKeown, An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk
2022 Common Ground, The Presentation Arts Centre, Wexford
2021 Receipts on a Wire, NCAD Paint, Dublin
Selected Exhibitions
2026 196th RHA Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
2025 Solstice, Wexford Arts Centre, Wexford.
2025 Inaugural Hunt Exhibition, Hunt Museum, Limerick
2024 Things I Bring From Home, curated by Helen Carey, Galerie Michaela Stock, Vienna
2024 Exhibition and Auction in association with Christie’s, Millerntor Gallery, Hamburg
2024 194th RHA Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
2024 Max. 45x36x20, Goldsmith’s University, London
2024 Hennessy Craig Award Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
2024 Jahres Ausstellung, HFBK, Hamburg
2023 193rd RHA Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
2023 Jahres Ausstellung, HFBK, Hamburg
2022 Anonymous Drawings, HYCP Veddel Space, Hamburg
2022 PeripheriesMEET #2, Periphery Space, Wexford
2022 New Beginnings, The Lab Gallery, Dublin
2021 Graduate Showcase, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin
2021 It’s at Home, Unit 44, Stoneybatter, Dublin
2021 Lucky No.7, Mend HX, Dublin
2020 190th RHA Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
2020 Visions, National Treasury Management Agency, Dublin
2019 Cahoots, Inspire Gallery, Dublin
2018 Trajectory, NCAD Gallery, Dublin
Awards and Funding
2024 Goldsmith’s University x HFBK exhibition exchange
2023 Shortlisted for biannual Hennessy Craig/Homan Potterton Award, RHA
2022 Agility Award, The Arts Council Ireland
2019 Shortlisted for Student of the Year, NCAD
Collections
State Art Collection, Office of Public Works, Ireland
Private collections in Ireland, England and Germany
Residencies and Studio Memberships
2027 (Upcoming) Six Week Residency with Skaftfell Art Centre, Seyðisfjörður, Iceland
2025 Studio membership at Publications 2026 Billhorner Deich 126, Hamburg
Publications
2026 (Article) Blaine O’Donnell’s ‘Idir’- an exhibition review, Wexford Weekly
2026 (Article) Cody McEvoy’s ‘Rectify Her, Regulate Her’- an exhibition review, Wexford Weekly
2025 (Essay) The Significant Insignificants, Dublin Art Book Fair, Temple Bar Gallery
2025 (Essay) The Significant Insignificants, Sender Art Book Collection, Hamburg
2024 (Thesis) An Exploration into the Subjective Idea that Small Things are Important in their own Right, HFBK Library Collection
2024 (Artwork) Cathedral in the Fields, Book of poems and selected artworks by Paddy Walsh
Professional Development
2026 Artist Mentoring. Targeted professional development sessions with established artist and mentor, Eamon Colman.
2022 PeripheriesMEET Correspondence Programme 2021/22. Ran by Gorey School of Art, Wexford. Selected participant along with 7 fellow artists.
2021 Clancy Quay Professional Development Programme. Ran by NCAD, Superprojects and Project Arts Centre, Dublin. Selected participant along with 14 fellow artists.
Murals and Public Art Commissions
2026 Oklahoma! Musical set and backdrop painting, Oylegate Musical Society, Wexford
2025 Handpainted menu boards, McGuinness’ Takeaway, Camden Street Dublin
2025 School murals and glass lettering, St, Pauls Secondary School, Raheny, Dublin
2024 Belong, mural at Enniscorthy Rugby Football Club, Wexford
Teaching and Workshop Facilitation
2025 - present Oylegate Community Centre, Wexford. Coordinator and facilitator of weekly drawing and painting group sessions for adults and children.
2021,2022 Coláiste Bríde, Enniscorthy, Wexford Visual art teacher for junior and senior cycle.