Conversations Over Coffee with a business leader

Caroline Campbell made history as the first woman to lead the National Gallery of Ireland in its 158-year history, bringing with her a wealth of experience from roles at the National Gallery, London, and the Ashmolean Museum. A respected art historian and curator, she combines scholarly depth with a visionary approach to leadership.

Have you ever made a decision that was risky, but ultimately led to something great?

In recent years, the Gallery has increased the representation of women artists in our collection and exhibitions, including those artists who have yet to receive the public recognition they deserve. This is something I believe in, as do our curators, exhibitions and collections staff.

This has meant championing lesser-known artists, and taking a risk. However, it’s an important part of our mission, part of making the Gallery an exciting and informative place to experience art. I’m pleased that this has been well received by our audiences.

Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone: The Art of Friendship, our summer exhibition this year, celebrates two pioneering Irish modernists who changed the direction of Irish art. The exhibition explores their friendship and shared experiences, while studying and working in Paris during the early 1920s, as well as their careers in Ireland.

Among our other recent exhibitions, I want to mention two which have resonated with audiences and critics at home and internationally – Lavinia Fontana and Women Impressionists.

Lavinia Fontana, a contemporary of Shakespeare’s, was the first professional female artist in Europe, working outside the confines of a court or a convent. She is represented in our collection by one of her greatest paintings, The Visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon, which was purchased by the Gallery in the 1870s. Our exhibition in 2023 followed a major conservation treatment of this picture. Reviews praised Fontana’s remarkable talent, further cementing her reputation and renown across the world.

Women Impressionists marked the 150th anniversary of the first Impressionist exhibition, held in Paris in 1874. Featuring works by Berthe Morisot (1841-1895), Eva Gonzalès (1849-1883), Marie Bracquemond (1860-1914), and Mary Cassatt (1844-1926), the exhibition highlighted their remarkable contributions to one of the most important moments in Western art. Again, its core came from two works in our collection, by Berthe Morisot and Eva Gonzalès.

We all need a consigliere, who do you call when the pressure is on?

I have a circle of trusted colleagues, board members, friends and family, who are incredibly supportive. They ask the right questions, share varied perspectives, and generally make both my work and life truly interesting and more pleasurable.

Which daily habit or ritual do you swear by?

I like to walk to and from work. This is time to clear my mind and to think, in any weather. Living in Sandymount, I am lucky to walk to the National Gallery through parts of Georgian Dublin, and along the Grand Canal. Watching the reflections on the water, and the cormorants who live on one stretch of the canal, gives me great contentment.

What is a myth about leadership you would like to personally dismantle?

The idea that only leaders have the answer. The best leaders in my experience are the ones who listen. They surround themselves with people who bring different skillsets and expertise to the table. Leadership in my view is about having a direction, and creating the right environment for the good ideas to thrive. I also don’t think there’s a single right or wrong way to do most things, including how to lead. I think each of us finds a way which works for us, and hopefully for others too.

What has taught you the most about resilience and success?

Resilience and success, I believe, come from dedication, collaboration, continuing curiosity, and belief in your work. This year, my exhibition, Siena: The Rise of Painting 1300-1350, opened at the National Gallery in London, where I worked as director of collections and research before taking on my current role. The exhibition took over 10 years to bring to fruition. From this and other exhibitions, I’ve learnt that great projects take time, years of research, partnership and problem-solving. Seeing works of art that were made over 700 years ago reunited and reassembled, and the positive impact this has made on visitors, is a salient reminder to me that persistence and vision do pay off.

Because real strategy often happens behind the scenes, what’s the most valuable decision you’ve made that didn’t make it into a press release?

Building strong relationships with international museums is very much at the heart of what we do at the National Gallery of Ireland, and it’s always been a crucial aspect of my working life. This work is incremental, so it doesn’t make it into press releases. Such relationships are also key for many of my colleagues, and these, combined with our world-class collection, mean that we are able to collaborate with institutions across the world, helping us create partnerships that allow us to bring exceptional exhibitions to life—like Picasso: From the Studio this autumn.

Looking ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be an exciting year, with several major exhibitions in preparation that we will be announcing very soon. Our 2026 exhibitions build on some of our current international relationships, and involve a new partnership we have been developing for some years. There is a huge amount of work happening all the time behind the scenes to make everything at the Gallery possible, and ensure we continue to deliver remarkable experiences for all our audiences.

What’s your personal luxury; the one thing you unapologetically indulge in?

Taking a few minutes every day to look at something beautiful, afresh – generally in the National Gallery of Ireland. Time with my family, my husband and our two children, is also something I cherish.

Any great business books, podcasts, or publications that you favour and would recommend?

I love audio. I regularly listen to RTÉ Arena, NewsTalk’s Talking Histories and Morning Ireland, and enjoy taking time to read the weekend papers. I like to read the Harvard Business Review daily tips, and I recommend the email newsletters from The Conversation because they’re written by specialists from a multitude of fields, in straightforward language.

What’s the most important thing you do to support and strengthen your team?

Supporting and strengthening my team is a key part of my role. I value my colleagues, and their contributions, and it’s important that I acknowledge and thank them, especially after the successful completion of major events and projects. For example, in the last twelve months, the Gallery reached its third-highest ever ticket sales following the success of Women Impressionists, and during the last calendar year we welcomed over one million visitors, a remarkable milestone given the population of Ireland. That represents a huge push from everyone, across the Gallery. We have approximately 180 permanent staff and run one of the largest volunteer programmes in the arts in Ireland, with 200 volunteers playing a vital role in visitor experience. I know my colleagues, like myself, are proud to work for the National Gallery because we all believe in the Gallery’s public mission and purpose. It’s crucial to preserve and nurture this spirit and culture.

What’s a question you wish more people asked you?

‘What’s going on at the National Gallery of Ireland?’ As one of our island’s leading cultural institutions, we’re always instigating exciting projects and initiatives. Right now, the Library and Archives team are putting the final touches to Créatúir na Cartlainne. This exhibition promises to be a fun and special experience, a celebration of animals through archival treasures in the gallery’s collection, using the medium of the Irish language.

Beyond that, we have some major acquisitions that are set to be unveiled in the coming months – these are significant additions to our national, international and portrait collections. Our public engagement programme continues to shine, bringing art to life through talks, workshops, and community partnerships. Whether it’s deepening connections with visitors, expanding accessibility, or creating meaningful interactions through art, the Gallery is busy fostering an inclusive and inspiring environment for all. This will also be evident in the marvellous learning programme supporting Picasso: From the Studio.

When you step away from your desk for good, what legacy do you hope to leave, and who do you hope is listening?

That I’ve enabled more people to enjoy visiting our wonderful museums and galleries – which are available to everyone, for free. They’re among the greatest treasures of this island, and of Europe. I hope that those who don’t do this at the moment are listening!

I’d like to leave a legacy of making art accessible, ensuring that museums are places for pleasure and respite as well as knowledge and scholarship. I hope that artists, curators, and thinkers continue to shape a richer artistic landscape for generations to come: reinterpreting, loving and growing our great national collections for all.

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Photography by Julien Behal