Andy MacManus joins historic exhibition with ‘A Hairs Breadth’

Síofra Grant

In a similar way that the sports world is focused on the World Cup, the art world is turning its attention to The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. It is one of the longest running exhibits in the world, and since 1769, artists have been displaying in its galleries without interruption for 258 years.

This year there are some 1,700 pieces on show in Burlington House on Piccadilly in Mayfair, London. Some are by famous artists, others by members of the public and most are available to buy. If you’re thinking of visiting the exhibition, which is running until August 23, you may recognise one of the names on the wall.

Andy MacManus, Westmeath born and bred now based in the UK, has been producing his abstract pieces consistently since 2020: “I think there are eight or nine rooms, it’s quite a big show,” he said, explaining that most of the work is from established artists.

“It’s a thrill to see your work alongside big names, if you want to call it that.”

The artist is renowned for exploring how national and territorial symbols are constructed, using fabric and structured colour to disrupt fixed ideas about location. His piece, ‘A Hair’s Breath’ is on display at this year’s exhibition. The theme for 2026 is ‘Interconnectedness’.

Andy’s Royal Academy Summer Exhibition piece displays this through the two contrasting halves of his painting, one controlled and geometric, the other wild and chaotic.

“It’s about connection, and how all these little small gaps or margins can be the difference between being connected. Or for want of a better term, disconnected from someone else. The little gap between these two red circles, there’s a bit of tension there,” he says.

“Small shifts can completely change the relationship between things. If I put them a bit closer together, then that tension is gone.”

Andy’s work not only represents the ever changing nature of relationships, but their vitality when it comes to the whole picture: “Sometimes these things are only kind of a chance encounter or a moment of change.

“That was where I was going with it. Equally, obviously, there’s a quite controlled geometric shape in there, the blue and then the spray paint is more instinctive and it’s a little less controlled.

“Then you’ve got the red circles, individually none of these things really work but together they give each other meaning. I suppose that’s the more arty explanation to the work,” he said.

In addition to displaying his piece in one of the most prestigious venues in the world, Andy received even more good news on walking into the gallery: “I found out when I went to the opening that my piece was selected by Michael Craig Martin and Ryan Gander. They are two artists I really admire.

“Michael Craig Martin, being Irish born as well, is really special,” said Andy. “It gives you confidence that you’re on the right track and you’re doing something right.”

Andy explained the thrill he felt at seeing who had selected him. Even through the crackly phone call, you can hear the smile in his voice as he recalls the moment.

“It’s great to see someone who you look up to as the one to pick you. In my mind, I had thought, ‘I wonder who picked me?’, so it was a real thrill to see on the wall that I was in their room.”

While displaying his piece in the gallery is an incredible achievement, Andy is no stranger to seeing his art in historic places, albeit in somewhat unconventional ways.

American writer Henry David Thoreau’s famous quote ‘This world is but a canvas to our imagination’, couldn’t be more appropriate than when describing Andy and his approach to displaying his pieces.

The artist has erected many murals across the city of London, has displayed his pieces on Mount Fuji, The Great Wall of China, and the Renjo La Pass in Nepal.

Natural settings have been the backdrop of many of his projects, and in his ongoing ‘Into the Wild’ series, his pieces have been seen in Romania, Lilliput Bog and Scotland.

He has made pieces to adorn windows, projections displayed on Dublin walls. And much more: “I started working with textiles in the last few years. I think a long time ago I was quite interested in street art and things like that, I like the idea of travelling as much as I can. I like the idea of bringing art with me everywhere.

“As I got a bit older, I enjoyed travelling and hiking, as opposed to city breaks and partying and things like that. As an artist, I was curious about borders and thresholds.

“I thought it was a nice way to take art with me and document it while I was away. One thing led to another and the whole practice of flags made sense. Initially, I painted some kind of banners and brought them, I used to carry them with me.”

This was central to the evolution of his artistic exercise: “Then the practice started focusing more on borders and thresholds and exploring those topics, so flags seemed like a natural progression. I think I continued to develop in that vein.

“I’m still a painter as well, trying to marry those things together is currently the challenge. Some people know me as a painter, and some people know me for the flags.”

Andy has also received public commissions for murals and such in both the UK and Ireland. His first mural was in Mullingar in collaboration with Cúige Studios.

The last week has been hectic for Andy, “I’ve never known as many ceremonies in my life,” he said with a laugh. “As a devout atheist, I was invited to a church ceremony which I didn’t go to, and I actually maybe slightly regret that, because I think it would have been quite interesting.

“Then there’s a day called Varnishing Day.” This was the first event of the week, taking place on Monday a week before the official openings.

Varnishing Day originated in the Royal Academy of London. It began alongside the Summer Exhibition and has been a time honoured tradition ever since.

The day was originally to give the chance for artists to put the final coat of paint on their paintings. It still remains exclusive to the artists whose paintings are on display in the academy.

“It’s the first time you get to see the exhibition fully hung and it’s a lovely moment. Obviously there are people who are also members of the Royal Academy and it’s not their first rodeo. But for me it was.”

Then came the official opening: “There’s a kind of fundraiser opening, which is all the celebrities and then people who pay £800 a ticket. Then on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday, the following week there’s friends of the RA and artists can bring a friend with them.”

Andy has further projects on the horizon: “At the moment I’ve applied for a couple of residencies, and they’re highly competitive.

“But I feel like I’m in a place now where that kind of opportunity would really serve me well. I’m hoping for a place in one of them and to go away and develop my studio practice a bit more.

“And to kind of look for further synergy between the paintings and the textile work, It’s something I’m trying to develop that I haven’t shown yet.”

Andy’s work is also part of another exhibition currently in Greenwich: “There’s a few other things, one of them I can’t say anything about, but it’s set to develop in the near future.”

It seems like it’s all happening for the Mullingar artist this year and there’s no doubt that many locals will be following his career closely. For those interested the exhibition will be running until August 23.