37 state-owned artworks reported missing since the start of the year

Darragh Mc Donagh

37 artworks owned by the state and managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) have been reported missing since the beginning of this year.

The OPW’s Art Management Office is responsible for around 13,500 paintings, sculptures and other works on display in nearly 500 public buildings around the country.

This year, it carried out audits at 56 premises where 2,633 artworks were located. A total of 37 of these pieces could not be located during the inspections and remain missing.

Some 19 of the audits were conducted in person by staff members from the Art Management Office, while 37 were carried out on behalf of the office by workers at the premises where the works are located.

The OPW could not provide information regarding the value of the missing artworks, as individual pieces are valued only where there is a requirement to insure them or where they are loaned to third parties or exhibitions.

The information on the 37 works that were categorised as “unlocated” by the OPW this year was provided by Minister of State Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran this week in response to a parliamentary question from Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly.

Mr Moran said the State Art Collection comprises works of “historic significance”, as well as contemporary work by emerging artists.

Each piece is photographed and assigned a unique number before being placed on display in public locations.

“According to collection management system data at December 10th, there were 19 in-person collection audits and 37 digital collection audits undertaken in 2025,” he said.

“From these collection audits, 37 artworks were categorised on the collection management system as unlocated.”

The Art Management Office has engaged with those responsible for the public buildings where the artworks had been located with a view to establishing their current whereabouts.

The minister said the office also conducts further analysis in such circumstances to find out how long the artworks have been unaccounted for.

“This process is currently ongoing in relation to the 2025 collection management audits,” he added.

“Financial valuations are only undertaken on individual artworks where there is a need to insure them when they are placed on loan to external third parties or exhibitions.

“The value of the State Art Collection is measured by its cultural and heritage significance, not its financial value and therefore fluctuations in the art market do not alter its value,” said Mr Moran.