Recipient of the RHA School Studio Award 2025-2026 officially announced

Fingal County Council Arts Office in partnership with the RHA announce Eileen O’Sullivan, a visual artist based in Fingal, as the recipient of the RHA School Studio Award.

This prestigious award provides one professional artist with a funded studio space in the RHA for one year beginning at the end of October 2025.

Eileen O’Sullivan is a visual artist based in Fingal who works within an expanded painting practice. Her current work critically explores the politics of making, mending, and visibility by engaging with material culture, domestic labour, and the aesthetics of repair. Using materials such as oil paint, supplies from the haberdashery and DIY shop, found objects, and child friendly materials she embraces processes that question hierarchies of skill and labour.

Fingal County Council Arts Officer, Sarah O’Neill said; "We are delighted to announce Eileen O’Sullivan as this year's recipient of the prestigious RHA School Studio award. The opportunity will provided Eileen with time and space to develop her professional practice. This award will also enable Eileen to connect with other artists throughout the residency".

Eileen O’Sullivan commented on receiving the award; "I am so grateful for the generous support of Fingal Arts Office and the RHA. It is a privilege to have been offered such an excellent, professional working environment to develop my work over the coming year". 

Eileen holds an MFA in Fine Art Painting from NCAD (2025) and a BA in Fine Art Painting and History of Art. She has exhibited widely, including recent shows at the Royal Hibernian Academy Annual, Rua Red, and Trinity College Dublin, as well as international festivals like Zeitgeist Berlin. Along with being awarded the Arts Council Agility Award and the RHA Evans Painting Prize, she has also completed residencies at Draíocht and Cill Rialaig. She was shortlisted for the Hennessy Craig award in 2022.

Alongside her studio practice, Eileen is active as an art facilitator and has contributed to programmes with organisations such as the National Gallery of Ireland, and Creative Ireland