Last updated: 28 October 2026
Genieve Figgis is the Irish artist behind melting, darkly funny takes on aristocratic portraits and 18th-century scenes. Here you will find our take on her work, where to see Genieve Figgis now, her editions and books, recent auction results, and her War Child piece.
Our take on Genieve Figgis
Figgis takes the powdered wigs and silk gowns of European painting and lets the paint run. Faces melt into smears of colour, and the party always looks like it is about to turn. “I like the costumes, the history and the paintings that were made in this period because they are theatrical,” she says in Almine Rech’s text for Drama Club.
Her War Child piece, Wings, is acrylic in thick, wet strokes. A black winged figure in a top hat flies through a blaze of orange and yellow, with spots of blue around it. It is one of the liveliest small works in the sale, and bidding had already reached £420 when I checked on 28 October.
She is honest about the doubt behind it too. “If I was completely happy with my work I probably wouldn’t go into the studio at all,” she told Purple. Her large canvases now make £25,000 to £45,000 at Phillips, so a charity lot is a rare chance to own a small one.
Genieve Figgis: the essentials
- Born in Dublin in 1972; lives and works in County Wicklow, according to Almine Rech.
- Studied at Gorey School of Art and the National College of Art and Design, Dublin, completing her MFA in 2012.
- Built a following through social media, which caught the eye of Richard Prince and led to her shows at Harper’s, East Hampton, in 2014 and 2016.
- Roberta Smith of The New York Times called her paintings “nastily entertaining pieces of work”.
- Drama Club at Almine Rech Monaco (2026) was her ninth solo show with the gallery. Her first museum solo show in Asia was at M WOODS, Beijing, in 2023.
- Represented by Almine Rech and Harper’s.
Where to see Genieve Figgis now
- Now, until 1 November: Panorama Europa (group), The Glucksman, University College Cork, 15 May to 1 November 2026.
- Coming up: Sound & Vision 2026, a War Child charity auction online from 27 October to 12 November 2026, with the works on view at Iconic Images Gallery, London, 6 to 8 November. The piece is Wings (2026), acrylic, 15 x 21 cm (5.9 x 8.3 in), lot page.
- Drama Club (solo), Almine Rech Monaco, 14 April to 25 September 2026.
- Songs to the Siren (group), The Model, Sligo, 24 January to 22 March 2026.
- Unearthly Pursuits (solo), Almine Rech Venice, 29 September to 1 December 2024.
Recent Genieve Figgis auction results
Market signals
Averages over the last 36 months, all works. Source: Artsy.
- Men in a Boat, 2019, acrylic on canvas, 149.8 x 150.2 cm (59 x 59.1 in): £45,150 against an estimate of £12,000 to £18,000, Phillips London, online, 23 October 2026.
- The Artist, 2015, acrylic on canvas, 149.9 x 149.9 cm (59 x 59 in): US$51,600 (about £38,600), Phillips New York, 26 September 2026.
- Napoleon, 2022, acrylic and oil on canvas, 80 x 100 cm (31.5 x 39.4 in): £25,800, Phillips London, 3 December 2025.
Market signals are Artsy’s averages for all works over the last 36 months. Prices include buyer’s premium, as published by Phillips. Sterling figures are approximate, at October 2026 exchange rates. Last checked: 28 October 2026.
How to buy a Genieve Figgis edition or book
Almine Rech Editions sells her editions and books, priced in euros:
- Friends: a framed embroidered tapestry, signed and numbered, edition of 55 plus 5 artist’s proofs, €4,100 from Almine Rech Editions. Her prints there are sold out.
- Genieve Figgis (Skira Rizzoli, 2017): the monograph, now a collectable at €390 from Almine Rech Editions.
- Something for Lovers (Karma): a colouring book of 34 of her paintings, €75 from Almine Rech Editions.
- Wings, 2026: a small acrylic in the War Child Sound & Vision auction, bidding from £100 until 12 November 2026 (bid here).
- Paintings: through Almine Rech or Harper’s, price on request.
Genieve Figgis FAQs
Which gallery represents Genieve Figgis?
Almine Rech, which first showed her in London in 2015, and Harper’s.
How much do Genieve Figgis paintings sell for?
Large canvases made £45,150 at Phillips London in October 2026 and US$51,600 in New York in September 2026. Artsy puts her average sale price over the last three years at about US$54,000.
Can I buy a Genieve Figgis print?
Her prints at Almine Rech Editions are sold out, but an embroidered tapestry edition is available for €4,100.
Where can I see her work in London?
Her War Child piece, Wings, is on view at Iconic Images Gallery from 6 to 8 November 2026.
More from CoolCuration
- This Is Still Not a Pipe review: Magritte at Gagosian, another painter who plays games with art history.
- Art on a Postcard: another charity art sale where small works by big names go for less.
- Best affordable art in the UK: prints and originals under £500.
- Gifts for artists: our edit of presents for people who make things.
Think we’re missing something, got something wrong, or want to be featured? Contact us.
Main image: Genieve Figgis, 2018. Photo: Paige Silveria for Purple. Cropped and framed by CoolCuration. Exhibition dates, prices, auction results and market figures last checked: 28 October 2026.
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