Winner 16-18: Ross McHale

Age 17

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, 2022 

Oil on canvas | Unframed: 40 x 50 cm

‘I chose to name this self-portrait after James Joyce’s novel as I was struck by its relatability, even after over a hundred years. The focus of my portrait is on my face as it turns away from the cold light into the warm; it looks away from the viewer, focused on something else. This is to represent the artist’s decision to turn away from a safer life in favour of the unknown world of their dreams.’

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