Born in Belfast in 1965, Ronnie Hughes studied at the University of Ulster, Belfast, receiving an MA in Fine Art in 1989. Hughes has had numerous solo exhibitions throughout Ireland and beyond (including Butler Gallery, Goethe Institute, Hugh Lane Golden Bough, MAC Belfast, Molesworth Gallery, Ormeau Baths Gallery, Pulse Miami, Rubicon Gallery, Sirius Arts Centre, Steve Turner Los Angeles) and has participated in many group exhibitions worldwide.

In 2017 ‘Strange Attractors’, a large survey exhibition of his recent work, received a major Arts Council grant to tour the Model Sligo, Limerick City Gallery and the RHA Dublin. The show was accompanied by an extensive publication which included texts by Martin Herbert and Joanne Laws.

Hughes’ work has been written about extensively and he has received a multitude of awards including residencies at PS1 New York, Banff Arts Center Canada, Bemis Arts Center Nebraska, the Vermont Studio Center and the Albers’ Foundation in Connecticut.

Hughes’ work is held in many public and corporate collections, including both Irish Arts Councils and the Irish Museum of Modern Art.  He has lived in County Sligo since 1995 where he lectures at ATU Sligo.