Photo – Jenny Callanan
The first Solo Award recipient for 2026 has been announced, with Eilish McCann presenting her new exhibition Don’t Throw Bouquets, curated by Vivienne Byrne, which opened on Saturday, 31 January at the gallery space on Stockwell Street.
The exhibition runs from 31 January to 7 March and is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 4pm.
Eilish McCann, an artist based in County Cavan, works primarily in oil and acrylic on canvas and paper. Her practice moves between close observation of everyday moments and imaginative reworkings of classical painting traditions.
Don’t Throw Bouquets takes its title from a Sinatra song, originally from the musical Oklahoma!, which was often sung by her father around the family home. The song echoes throughout the exhibition, informing a body of work that reflects on themes of transition, grief and aging.
The First Solo Award is designed to provide funding and professional support at a key stage in the careers of artists from the North East region who have not yet presented a solo exhibition, helping them to develop and showcase new work in a dedicated gallery setting.
