Irish Contemporary Art Postage Stamps

The Irish Office of Public Works is responsible for managing the State Art Collection, comprising about 16,000 artworks. These include historical and contemporary paintings, original prints, sculpture, fine art and decorative objects, music, and poetry.

It is the largest dispersed collection in the State, and over 90% of the artworks are on display in public buildings and heritage properties including many government offices, parks, Áras an Uachtaráin, Dublin Castle, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Farmleigh, Leinster House, Government Buildings, Garda stations, and court facilities including the Four Courts.

To honour this important collection, An Post issued stamps featuring: oil painting He Rode Him Lightly by Gabhann Dunne; sculptureTo a Vanishing Point (an Iteration) by Barbara Knežević; motion-capture etching print Dog by Colin Martin; and photographic work Camogie Player by Amelia Stein.

The four artworks selected are very different, hinting at the remarkable diversity embodied by the collection and by Ireland’s many talented artists.

By keeping the stamps simple, with clean lines, uncluttered design elements, and appealing colour interactions, the original artworks are allowed to shine.

Stamps are printed CMYK plus a metallic silver ink.