The Rest @126 Gallery,

Galway (September 2023)

The Rest, held at 126 Artist-Run Gallery & Studios in Galway in September 2023, was an exhibition curated by Áine O’Hara focusing on the experiences of sick, disabled, d/Deaf, neurodiverse and mad artists. The exhibition explored how sick and disabled artists navigate an art world that is often not designed for them, while highlighting the urgent need for greater accessibility within cultural spaces.

The exhibition featured work by Annie Lee, Lucy Quane, Laura Whelan and Ríon Duffy Murphy, showcasing the inventiveness and creativity of artists who are frequently silenced or excluded. As sick and disabled artists are often treated as an afterthought within the art world, The Rest examined how artists find their own ways to “crip” the art world — attending exhibitions from bed, lying on museum floors, creating work through WhatsApp voice notes, or resting in museum bathrooms.

Accessibility and care were central to the exhibition design. The gallery included quiet spaces, comfortable seating such as couches and cushions, sensory supports including stim toys, and COVID-19 safety measures such as mask-wearing and HEPA filtration. A virtual opening was also held on 9 September 2023, alongside online “Show and Tell” events featuring the Chronic Collective.

Through these approaches, The Rest asked a vital question:
“How do you dream of a new world when there’s nowhere to sit down?”

126 Gallery is a non-profit, artist-led organisation known for supporting community-driven and accessible art initiatives, supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Galway City Council.