Friday, May 15, 2026 at 12:00 AM to Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM
18th Street Arts Center, Santa Monica
**The Irish Contemporaries {V}** **May 15th -June 6th, 2026** [**18th Street Arts Center**](https://18thstreet.org/venue/18th-street-arts-center/) **1629 18th Street -** **Library** The Irish Contemporaries 5 continues CIACLA’s acclaimed series celebrating the breadth and innovation of contemporary Irish visual art. This fifth edition brings together a diverse range of practices and perspectives, offering audiences in Los Angeles an opportunity to experience the vitality of Ireland’s artistic voice today. Through painting, sculpture, installation, film, and new media, the exhibition reflects the energy and ambition of Irish artists working across disciplines and across the world. Ireland is undergoing a powerful cultural reawakening, a return to story, language, and landscape. This revival has been deeply shaped by the work and spirit of Manchán Magan, whose voice bridged worlds, reminding us that myth and memory are still alive beneath the surface of everyday life. He invited us to see Ireland’s ancient wisdom not as something closed or exclusive, but as an open, inclusive way of being and a bridge between cultures. In a world that’s increasingly divided, where borders are hardened, people are displaced, and wars are waged, Manchán spoke instead of connection and unity, showing how Ireland’s ancient wisdom can offer compassion, belonging, and understanding across all boundaries. *I**rish Contemporaries 5 explores* the Irish tradition of storytelling that binds community, identity, and imagination. Artists were encouraged to explore how stories, both ancestral and new, continue to shape our sense of belonging. Curated by Matthew Nevin & Ciara Scanlan Presented by CIACLA – Contemporary Irish Arts Center Los Angeles, the exhibition builds on the success of previous editions, reaffirming our commitment to showcasing the best of Irish contemporary culture in an international context. **Featured Artists across both venues**: [Deirdre Mulrooney](https://18thstreet.org/artists/deirdre-mulrooneymay-2026/) & [Gearóid O’Dea](https://18thstreet.org/artists/gearoid-odea-april-2026/) ***Two Exhibition Openings:*** **18th Street Arts Center | Opening Friday 15th May @1pm ** **Spotlight Artists: **Anselm and Joan McClain, Barbara Lavery, Bren Holmes, Katie Thibault, Mary J Sheridan, and Robert Fox **Angels Gate Cultural Center | Opening Saturday 16th May 1pm** **Spotlight Artists: **Arthur Rosa, Brenda Welsh, Carol Anne McChrystal, Elisabeth Banim, Inés Pesado Catrufo, Jenny Cosgrave, Jerry McGrath, Paul James Kearney, Pete Michels, Shaun O’Connor, and Sheila McMullin **Supported By** The Irish Contemporaries {V} is made possible through the generous support of CIACLA, 18th Street Arts Center, Angels Gate Cultural Center, MART Gallery & Studios, Culture Ireland, the Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, and the LA County Department of Arts and Culture. “This multi site exhibition highlights how Irish-connected artists continue to reinvent how we understand story, culture, and visual language, no matter which side of the Atlantic they’re working from.” — Matthew Nevin For updates and further details, visit [https://ciacla.com/the-irish-contemporaries-5/](https://ciacla.com/the-irish-contemporaries-5/)