Stephen Forbes- Everyday Robots: Gormleys Dublin

One of Ireland’s most collected contemporary painters, Stephen Forbes (b. 1973), will present a compelling new body of work in his upcoming solo exhibition, 'Everyday Robots', opening on 20 November and running through to 11 December 2025, in our Dublin Gallery. 

 

Forbes trained at the prestigious Royal Academy School in London and Liverpool John Moores University in Liverpool. His work has been exhibited at the Royal Academy galleries in London, the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin and the Royal Ulster Academy in Belfast. 

 

Fascinated by scenes of everyday interaction, Forbes’ paintings are populated with figures in motion interacting, often rendered in a bold primary palette set against neutral grounds, offering a striking blend of movement, joy and painterly discipline.

His works are held in prominent public and private collections, including Allied Irish Bank, Deutsche Bank, Four Seasons Hotel Dublin, Queen’s University Belfast, and The Office of Public Works.

 

“Pleasure is a word seldom used in the current vocabulary of art criticism and commentary. My paintings simply aim to give viewers pleasure and to celebrate the playfulness of life… without the often-obsessive introspection about life and self. I am fascinated by how people interact and connect in everyday life.” – Stephen Forbes

 

Forbes has developed a reputation as one of Ireland’s most collectable contemporary artists, with his work commanding strong attention in both Irish and international art markets. 

This forthcoming exhibition marks a timely opportunity to view Forbes’ most recent works, which build on his celebrated focus on communal human interaction and paint-driven colour and energy.

 

The exhibition provides an ideal point of access for seasoned collectors and new admirers alike to engage with Forbes’ evolving practice at a moment of heightened interest in his work, and in Irish contemporary art overall.