Abigail O'Brien

In 2019, O'Brien received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts  from the National University of Ireland as well as the Woman of the Year Award for the Arts area from the Irish Tatler magazine. in recognition of her work in the arts in Ireland.

O'Brien is a sister of businessman Denis O'Brien. She lives and works in County Louth, Ireland, and is married to Hugh Bradley, with, as of 2019, eight grandchildren.

Through much of her work, O'Brien observes perceived gender roles, ritual domesticity and the role of women in society. O'Brien is known for collections of work including With Bread (2013) which examines the role of bread in daily lives and The Seven Sacraments (1996–2004) is a series of works reflecting on the Catholic Sacraments. The Cardinal Virtues - Fortitude (2005), Temperance (2009), Prudence (2017) and Justice (2021) see O'Brien explore the Cardinal Virtues through a contemporary lens. Other noted collections include The Silk Road Series (2015–2016), The Rag Tree Series, Bella (2006–2007), Peter the Painter (2016), Love Tokens (2020), Airfix Days (2012), Salt Fields.

O'Brien was first elected a Full Member of the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) in 2010, and elected as secretary of the academy from 2012 until 2017, the first time a female artist had held this position. She secured another "first" when elected as president of the academy for the 2018–2023 term. As RHA President, O’Brien is also an ex-officio Member of the Board of the National Gallery of Ireland and an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Scotland

O'Brien's work, "The Last Supper", from her series on the seven Catholic sacraments, was bought by the Irish Museum of Modern Art for its permanent collection in 1996, just a year after her graduation.

O'Brien has won several awards for her work, including the Arts Council (Ireland) awards in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2014 and 2014, The Solomon Sculpture Prize 2008, Culture Ireland Exhibition Bursary in 2005 /2008, and the Cultural Relations Committee of Ireland Award 2003.

O'Brien's noted individual works include Natural Wax (1995–2017), Bonsai, With Love Cologne, India, Four under Three, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Sic Juro (2011). Collaborations include How to Butterfly a Leg of Lamb (video installation) and Black Sole Bonne Femme, with artist Mary Mc Kenna, in 1999 and 2002 respectively.

Abigail O'Brien, PHRA, (born 1957 in Dublin, Ireland) is a contemporary Irish artist and the first female president of the Royal Hibernian Academy since its establishment in 1823. O'Brien's work explores themes such as ritual and rites of passage, and the domestic realm. O'Brien is best known for her multi-media installations featuring photography, video, sculpture, 3D printing, sound, inflatables, embroidery and handmade objects.

Born 1957 in Dublin, Ireland, one of four children, O'Brien began her career as an artist as a mature student receiving her education in Ireland's National College of Art and Design. Awarded Student of the Year, O'Brien achieved a BA in Fine Art in 1995 and was later awarded with an MA in Fine Art Painting from The National College of Art and Design, Dublin in 1998.