'An event like no other' about to get underway at Russborough House: today, from 11am

Gourmet food, prosecco on the lawn and affordable art for sale by the very best of Ireland’s contemporary artists, a must-visit event for budding collectors - that's the brief of an event about to commence at Russborough House today! Starting at 11am, and running until 4pm this afternoon, this ART CAR BOOT FAIR is sponsored by NISSAN. Whilst a few light showers are predicted, there's plenty of cover at Russborough, and really, this event is a must!

This creative concept is an art world mash-up of the car boot sale with the contemporary art fair. The very best of Ireland’s contemporary artists sell affordable artworks and collectables or activities such as portrait sketches at a fraction of the cost of their main art practice.

Participating artists include Vera Klute ARHA, Alan Phelan, Sarah Walker, Bennie Reilly, Gabhann Dunne, PJ Lynch, Gillian Lawler, Blaise Smith RHA, Joe Dunne RHA, Helen Blake and many, many more. Small original works by these artists fetch hundreds or thousands of euro but at this art fair, budding collectors can buy something fun and affordable made just for this event or at the event. Get in early to have your portrait sketched by Children’s Laureate P J Lynch, Hennessy Portrait award winner Vera Klute or Women on Walls portraitist, Blaise Smith. The National Print Museum will be there with their outreach van customising prints and running workshops.

Each artist will design a ‘boot’h’ exhibition, an installation or experience from the boot of their car – with a cash prize for the best display, who knows what Ireland’s best and brightest artists will come up with. The Art Car Boot Fair will take place on the majestic Carriage Sweep at the front of Russborough House in Blessington, Co Wicklow. Russborough has a long association with Fine Art in Ireland and is home to the extensive Beit collection of art and antiques, as well as donated collections to the Milltown and Beit wings of The National Gallery

Examples of artists exhibiting include Hennessy Portrait Prize winner Vera Klute who has a well-known practice in painting and sculpture. In her spare time, she has been making and firing porcelain teacups and saucers. Beautifully decorated in her signature style, these exclusive collectibles will make up her stall on the day and she will also be available for a limited number of portrait sketches drawn from life. Blaise Smith RHA is a well-known painter who once worked in the Computer Science Department in Trinity. He has a fascination with computers and has been experimenting for the last few months with a drawing bot that produces one-off drawings in a variety of media. For fun, he has also designed and manufactured a small edition of Artist’s Clocks to sell on the day.

About the sponsor – a brand aligned with creativity, innovation, and accessibility, Nissan Ireland are the event partner for the Art Car Boot Fair. Their history of support for contemporary art in Ireland began in 1997 with the Nissan Art Project at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, a prize designed to give artists the opportunity to realise major new temporary works for the public domain. The Art Car Boot Fair brings some of Ireland’s most exciting and creative contemporary artist directly to their audience, moving art of the museum and into the community.

Bringing art and audience together in a relatable environment.