Three of GASP’s artists have been selected to showcase their work in an exhibition of Outsider Art, the venture of popular rugby pundit Brent Pope. He started a search for Outsider Artists due to his curiosity about the genre’s profile in Ireland. His dream was to uncover the country’s hidden Outsider Artists and it was realised when he put out a call on national airwaves for submissions. He received an overwhelming response. Approximately 150 artists from around Ireland submitted work to this project and the final show includes 18 artists, 3 of which are GASP’s Rosaleen Moore, David Connolly and Yvonne Condon. 
The exhibition captured the interest of the viewers as soon as they walked through the doors. The individual pieces told their stories through bright colours, unique shapes and distinct styles, but the exhibition as a whole encompassed a greater tale of how important it is for this work to be seen and promoted. The art produced is raw; it can be therapeutic for the artists. It is not created to impress or for financial gain but to simply express visually what is within. Many but not all of the artists in this exhibition are living on the margins of society and may have experienced social disadvantage or social exclusion. Brent says, “To me, they represent what art should be, not about our acceptance, validation or about personal financial reward but about the immense pride and daily pleasure they derive from splashes of brilliant colour or minuscule detail painstakingly rendered. These art innovators are truly uncooked by culture”.
Brent Pope, Dorothy Cross, and Leszek Wolnik spoke at the opening. Leszek, the curator of the gallery commented that it was one of the best shows they had ever had in the gallery. Dorothy Cross, one of Ireland’s leading international artists made an interesting point about how she had recently seen a cave drawing that was undiscovered for thousands of years. She remarked that it is comforting to know that the art and artists of this show will not go undiscovered thanks to the people who support the genre. Brent Pope gave an emotional speech, as he genuinely has a love and is deeply touched by Outsider Art. He immersed himself in the exploration of the art and dedicated his time to finding it and says, “I’m not an art critic or expert; I just have a passion for this kind of art and the talented people that create it.”
