Partnership set to bring new mobile artwork into Dubliners daily journeys

An unlikely union between a Dublin museum and a state transport body has produced something that will fascinate commuters in the capital.

The Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) and the National Transport Authority (NTA), under its Transport for Ireland (TFI) brand, has announced a new partnership that will bring an inspiring mobile artwork directly into the daily journeys of Dubliners.

Art in Motion: Roots and Routes is a creation by artist Alberta Whittle, developed in collaboration with poet Dagogo Hart and community writers group Fatima Groups United’s The Poetry Vigilantes.

Together, they have created a vibrant artwork that will wrap one of TFI’s buses, transforming the familiar public transport vehicle into a moving canvas.

Launching this summer, the Art in Motion: Roots and Routes bus will operate across the TFI network in Dublin, bringing a burst of creativity to the capital.

Each day, thousands of passengers and many more who see the bus along the network will encounter art in a fresh and unexpected way.

This collaboration makes contemporary art a visible and accessible part of the city’s daily movement, reaching communities throughout Dublin.

Developed through a series of poetry workshops, the bus artwork is inspired by themes explored in Fisherwoman, Fisherwoman, an exhibition currently on show at IMMA.

The exhibition combines the work of contemporary artist Alberta Whittle (b. 1980) and renowned painter Camille Souter (1929–2023).

During the workshops, led by Whittle and Hart, participants from The Poetry Vigilantes composed original poetry responding to the exhibition and their own lived experiences.

These poetic fragments will appear across the bus wrap artwork, celebrating community voices and the power of poetry and art to connect and inspire.

Speaking on the partnership announcement, Anne Shaw, CEO of the NTA, said: “Transport for Ireland is delighted to work with IMMA to bring this inspiring project onto our network, where art can meet people as part of their everyday journeys.

“The TFI network connects communities across Dublin, and this collaboration shows how public transport can also connect us through creativity, culture and shared experience.”

Annie Fletcher, Director of IMMA, said: “IMMA is thrilled to partner with NTA’s Transport for Ireland brand.

“This exciting partnership is a Radically Public gesture that invites everyone, wherever they are, to engage with creativity in their daily lives.

“It’s a powerful meeting point between public infrastructure, artistic vision and community spirit.”

Art in Motion: Roots and Routes underscores IMMA’s commitment to expanding access to art and connecting with audiences beyond the Museum’s walls.

Through this collaboration with Transport for Ireland, contemporary art becomes woven into the city’s everyday rhythm, bringing colour, language, and imagination to the streets of Dublin.