Amanda Dunsmore

'Lydia' Dr Lydia Foy, 2022

Filmed video portrait, silent 

"In 1993, Dr Lydia Foy applied to Ireland’s Office of the Registrar General for a new birth certificate to reflect her gender. She was refused. Dr Foy undertook an arduous 22-year legal battle with the Irish State. Ireland’s Gender Recognition Act was passed on July 15th, 2015 and Lydia became the first person to be legally recognised by this Act. Lydia is also in the Guinness World Records for growing the tallest foxglove, 3.29 metres, and her portrait was filmed in her garden." - Amanda Dunsmore

Amanda Dunsmore works in art processes that explore representations of societal transformation, examining place, people and moments of political significance. Dunsmore’s contextual portraits evolve through long periods of research, and her work is presented as a series of extensive socio-political and historical projects, through video, photography, drawing, audio and sculptural installation. Central to Dunsmore’s art practice is an exploration of the potential and long-term implications of socio-political art-making and the legacy of visual parity  in portraiture. Dunsmore has exhibited extensively in Ireland and shown internationally since 1992. She lives in Co. Clare and is a Lecturer in Fine Art at Limerick School of Art & Design, TUS. 

WINNER OF THE AIB PORTRAIT PRIZE 2024

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