Barbara Dawson facts for kids

Barbara Dawson (born 26 April 1957) is an amazing Irish woman who works with art! She is an author, an editor, an art historian (someone who studies art history), a gallery director, and a curator (someone who plans and puts together art shows). She has put together many art exhibitions, including shows for famous artists like Francis Bacon.

Barbara Dawson made history as the first female director of the Hugh Lane Gallery. This gallery is in Dublin, Ireland, and is known as "the first public gallery of modern art in the world." She has been leading the gallery since 1991. She has also written several books, including Hugh Lane Gallery: Director's Choice.

In 2019, she received a special award from University College Dublin. This award recognized her as "one of the most significant figures in the Irish art world in recent decades."

Barbara Dawson: Her Journey in Art

A sculpture by Barry Flanagan in Dublin.

Francis Bacon's studio, rebuilt inside the Hugh Lane Gallery.

The General Post Office in Dublin.

Barbara Dawson studied history at University College Dublin. She graduated in 1979 with a bachelor's degree.

Later, in 2010, she received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree. This was from the National College of Art & Design (NCAD). It was given to her for her great work in the fine arts. She also teaches at the School of Art History and Cultural Policy at University College Dublin. In 2019, she won the UCD Alumni Award for Arts & Humanities.

Barbara also helps the Dublin City Council with public art. She has also guided and supported other women working in Irish museums.

Leading the Hugh Lane Gallery

Barbara Dawson started her career at the National Gallery of Ireland. In 1991, when she was 34, she became the Director of the Hugh Lane Gallery. This gallery is located in Parnell Square in Dublin. The city of Dublin owns the gallery.

The magazine Frieze Masters praised Barbara's work at the Hugh Lane Gallery. They said she has achieved many things as director. She has added to the art collections and started new types of collections. She also improved how art is cared for and made the gallery's records digital. Barbara changed how art is displayed, creating a special space for stained-glass art. She also started publishing books, improved education programs, and added a cafe and bookshop. She always keeps the temporary and modern art shows exciting.

Barbara has put together many important exhibitions for the Hugh Lane Gallery, such as:

• Francis Bacon – A Terrible Beauty (2009)
• Barry Flanagan on O'Connell Street (2007)
• Hugh Lane – 100 Years (2008)
• Richard Tuttle – Triumphs (2010)

In 1998, Barbara Dawson helped the museum get Francis Bacon's art studio from London. This studio was 6 meters by 4 meters. It was rebuilt inside the Hugh Lane Gallery exactly as it was, including the ceiling, floor, and even the dirt!

According to The Phoenix magazine, in 2017, Barbara launched a five-year plan. Her goal was to double the number of visitors. She also aimed to greatly increase funding. The plan included a nearly €4m renovation and buying major artworks between 2018 and 2023.

A Stolen Painting Found!

In June 1992, a year after Barbara became director, a painting was stolen. It was called In The Omnibus by the French artist Honore Daumier. The theft happened in the afternoon while the gallery was open to visitors.

More than 20 years later, in 2013, the painting was found! The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) recovered it during an investigation. Barbara Dawson was very happy that the painting was back. She said, "It was such a shock when it was stolen. We received messages of sympathy from galleries and museums all over Ireland and the world."

Books by Barbara Dawson

Barbara Dawson has written and edited many books and articles. These books are about modern and contemporary art. Some of her works include:

• Turner in the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin (1988)
• Images and Insights: Catalogue of an Exhibition of Works from the Permanent Collection at the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery of Modern Art, Dublin (1993) – written with several other authors.
• Impressionism in Britain and Ireland – with Kenneth McConkey (1995)
• Francis Bacon: Francis Bacon's Studio – with Margarita Cappock (2001)
• Hugh Lane: Founder of a Gallery of Modern Art for Ireland, Scala (2008)
• Francis Bacon: A Terrible Beauty Steidl (2010)
• Barry Flanagan: The Spade and The Soufflé (with Richard Tuttle)

See also

• Women in the art history field