About Us

In 2009, we returned from travelling to find Ireland in the grip of recession.

There were vacant properties everywhere: not only down side streets, but on main streets and in city centre locations.

PrettyvacanT Dublin was conceived as a response to the recession.

We wanted to repurpose these vacant properties as temporary exhibition spaces for artists. We wanted to make the properties more aesthetically appealing whilst allowing artists to bring their work to a wider audience.

And so we set about surveying empty properties and forging contacts in the art and property world ...

To date we have hosted 11 exhibitions, welcomed thousands of visitors and received coverage on television, on radio and in the national press.

So watch this space for future events ...

Louise Marlborough, Director and Co-founder

I am an artist and photographer first, and more recently a Director and Curator.

My artistic endeavours began at an early age and I was regularly found drawing and making things. At age 6 I was given my first camera and have been snapping away ever since. I gained a degree in Fine Art from NCAD before going on to study Photography in London.

PrettyvacanT Dublin was set up when I returned home to Dublin after 3 years travelling.

When I am not seeking out new artistic talent I can be found in the cafes of Dublin as an unofficial carrot cake taster. 

Philip Rowley, Communications Manager and Co-founder

My background is in media and advertising, having worked on campaigns for The Guardian, HSBC and eBay, in London, Auckland and Dublin.

After spending three years taking in Japan, Australia and New Zealand, I settled in Dublin and helped set up PrettyvacanT Dublin with Louise.

In my spare time, I obsessively surf the internet and argue with Louise about art.