Winners of AIB Portrait Prize and Young Portrait Prize announced at National Gallery of Ireland

Amanda Dunsmore has been announced as the winner of the National Gallery of Ireland’s AIB Portrait Prize. Her work, a filmed video portrait titled ‘Lydia,’ Dr Lydia Foy, was revealed as the winning portrait this evening during a prize-giving ceremony at the Gallery. Along with a €15,000 prize, Dunsmore will also receive a €5,000 commission to create a new work for the National Portrait Collection.

Arann McCormack and Emily Mc Gardle received highly commended prizes of €1,500 for their works I Never Promised You a Rose Garden and The Pox.

Amanda Dunsmore, on her work ‘Lydia’, Dr Lydia Foy, said, “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 meters, and her portrait was filmed in her garden.”

Amanda Dunsmore works in artistic 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.

The judges for the AIB Portrait Prize were Hughie O’Donoghue, artist and writer; Emer McGarry, Director of The Model, Sligo; and Simon O’Connor, Director of the Museum of Literature Ireland. 

Commenting on their selection, judge Hughie O’Donoghue said, “Congratulations to all those artists who are represented in the 2024 AIB Portrait Prize exhibition. The calibre of submissions was outstanding and this made the task of judging a winner particularly difficult. We, the judges, deliberated for some considerable time before consensus formed around what we felt was the outstanding work of art as well as selecting two other highly commended and distinguished works. The exhibition itself represents an opportunity to view the range and ambition of Ireland’s artists today and is a must see for anyone interested in Irish culture and art.”

Earlier today, the winners of the AIB Young Portrait Prize were also announced. The judges for this year’s prize were Ashwin Chacko, author-illustrator and motivational speaker; Emmalene Blake, visual street artist renowned for their large-scale portraits; and Sheena Barrett, Head of Research and Learning at the Irish Museum of Modern Art. The judges selected winners across four age categories (6 and under, 7–11, 12–15, and 16–18), along with an overall winner. 

Commenting on their selection, judge Ashwin Chacko said, "It’s been an honour and a brilliant experience being asked to judge the AIB Young Portrait Prize 2024. I was blown away by the standard of submissions this year, it made it phenomenally harder for us judges to choose the winners. I am encouraged to see that we are in no shortage of talent in Ireland and we can look forward to a bright future.”
 
Aoibhe Devereux, aged 16, was selected as the overall winner of the AIB Young Portrait Prize for her work Tumtha (Immersed). The prize includes a wooden box of high-quality art materials and a €500 cash prize. 

In her artist statement, Devereux said, “This is a portrait of my youngest brother on our holidays. I wanted to immortalise this moment of him in the pool with the rainbows dancing on his skin, to capture his joy and youthfulness. I enjoyed painting this portrait because I was constantly reminded of all the fun he has on our family holidays and all the fun we have together. It’s my favourite picture of him because it really shows who he is, a boy who has fun everywhere especially tumtha (immersed) underwater.”

Allanah McDonald Brown, aged 5, won the youngest category with Allanah the Mermaid, a work in mixed media. In the second category, Conor Mooney, aged 11, won with My Best Friend, pencil and oil pastel on canvas. My Mother, acrylic on canvas, by Zihan He, aged 15, was the winner of the category for ages 12-15. Julia Kardas, aged 18, won the final category with Dawn in Molten Blue, acrylic and pastel on paper. Each category winner is awarded a personalised box of art materials alongside a prize of €250.

Dr Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, said, “I am humbled by the calibre of entries in the AIB Portrait Prize and Young Portrait Prize. This year’s shortlist for the prizes reflects the diversity of modern Irish society and the unique perspectives of our artists. I’d like to offer my congratulations to our winners who have impressed the judges and our visitors with their talent, to commend all the short-listed artists, and to thank all who entered the competitions. We look forward to welcoming many more people to see the full exhibitions in our Portrait Gallery during the winter and spring.”

Colin Hunt, Chief Executive Officer of AIB added, “This is AIB’s first year supporting the Portrait Prize & Young Portrait Prize and we are immensely proud to be part of this incredible showcase of contemporary portraiture in Ireland. We are delighted to see such talented artists from across the country represented in this year’s shortlist and to congratulate the young and adult prize-winners on their success. I would urge people to take the time to visit the National Gallery of Ireland to see for themselves the quality of the works on display.’’

The AIB Portrait Prize exhibition, featuring 26 shortlisted works in total, is now open at the National Gallery of Ireland. It will run until 09 March 2025 alongside the AIB Young Portrait Prize exhibition of 20 shortlisted portraits. Both exhibitions will also be showcased in Killarney House and Gardens in 2025 from 05 April – 20 July 2025.

Find out more at www.nationalgallery.ie. 

ENDS

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Notes to Editor:

Exhibition Listing:

  • AIB Portrait Prize & Young Portrait Prize 2024
  • Portrait Gallery (Room 23), National Gallery of Ireland 
  • 09 November 2024 – 09 March 2025
  • Free admission

Gallery opening hours:

  • Monday: 11am – 5.30pm 
  • Tuesday – Wednesday: 9.15am – 5.30pm 
  • Thursday: 9.15am – 8.30pm 
  • Friday – Saturday: 9.15am –5.30pm 
  • Sunday: 11am – 5.30pm

About the National Gallery of Ireland:

The National Gallery of Ireland is one of the country’s most popular visitor attractions housing the nation’s collection of European and Irish art from about 1300 to the present day, and an extensive Library & Archive. Entry to the collection is free for all to enjoy, learn and be inspired.

2024 at the National Gallery of Ireland:

2024 is the 170th anniversary of the establishment of the Gallery through the National Gallery of Ireland Act (1854) and the 160th anniversary of the opening of the National Gallery of Ireland on the 30 January 1864. The Gallery recently published a new strategic plan for the period 2024-28.

For More Information:

Visit nationalgallery.ie or follow us on social media:

  • Facebook & Instagram: @nationalgalleryofireland
  • Twitter: @NGIreland
  • LinkedIn: @National Gallery of Ireland

AIB Portrait Prize:

The AIB Portrait Prize, open to artists aged 19 and over, runs for the eleventh time in 2024 with AIB as sponsor for the first year. The aim of the AIB Portrait Prize and Young Portrait Prize is to showcase and encourage interest in contemporary portraiture, support Irish talent and to raise the profile of the long-standing and constantly evolving National Portrait Collection at the National Gallery of Ireland. 

AIB Young Portrait Prize:

The AIB Young Portrait Prize is an inclusive art competition open to children and young people of all abilities, up to the age of 18, from across the island of Ireland. 

About AIB:

AIB is a financial services group, which operates predominantly in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Our shares are quoted on the Irish and London stock exchanges and we are a member of the FTSE4Good Index. Whether it’s adapting to a greener way of living, planning for the future, growing a business or simply navigating day-to-day life, our ambition is to support our 3.3 million customers, the communities where we operate and the wider economy.


Buaiteoirí Dhuais Portráide AIB agus Duais Portráidí na nÓg arna bhfógairt ag Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann

Bhuaigh Amanda Dunsmore Duais Portráide AIB; Bhuaigh Aoibhe Devereux Duais Portráide an Óige AIB

Tá Amanda Dunsmore fógartha mar bhuaiteoir Dhuais Portráide AIB Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann. Nochtadh a saothar, físphortráid scannánaithe dar teideal ‘Lydia,’ an Dr Lydia Foy, mar an bportráid a bhuaigh tráthnóna le linn searmanas bronnadh na nduaiseanna sa Ghailearaí. Chomh maith le duais €15,000, gheobhaidh Amanda Dunmore coimisiún ar luach €5,000 freisin le haghaidh saothar nua a chumadh do Bhailiúchán Náisiúnta. na bPortráidí

Bronnadh duaiseanna ardmholadh ar luach €1,500 ar Arann McCormack agus Emily Mc Gardle as a gcuid saothar I Never Promised You a Rose Garden agus The Pox.

Dúirt Amanda Dunsmore i leith a saothar ‘Lydia’, Dr Lydia Foy, “Sa bhliain 1993, rinne an Dr Lydia Foy iarratas ar Oifig Ard-Chláraitheoir na hÉireann ar theastas breithe nua chun a hinscne a léiriú. Diúltaíodh di. Thug an Dr Foy faoi chath dlí dian 22 bhliain le Stát na hÉireann. Ritheadh Acht na hÉireann um Aithint Inscne ar an 15 Iúil, 2015, agus ba í Lydia an chéad duine a aithníodh go dlíthiúil faoin Acht seo. Aithníodh Lydia sa Guinness Book of Records freisin as fás a dhéanamh ar an ngloine sionnach is airde, ar 3.29 méadar, agus scannánaíodh a portráid ina gairdín.”

Oibríonn Amanda Dunsmore i bpróisis na healaíne a fhiosraíonn léiriúcháin d'athrú saol an phobail, ag scrúdú ionad, daoine, agus tráthanna le tábhacht polaitiúil acu. Déantar portráidí comhthéacsúla de chuid Amanda Dunsmore a fhorbairt trí thréimhsí fada na taighde, agus léirítear a cuid saothar mar shraith thionscadail fhairsing shochpholaitiúla agus stairiúla, trí fhíseán, trí ghrianghrafadóireacht, trí líníocht, trí fhuaim agus trí shuiteáil dealbhóireachta. Lárchuid de chleachtas ealaíne léiríodh mórán taispeántais de chuid Amanda Dunsmore in Éirinn agus that lear ón mbliain 1992 i leith. Tá cónaí uirthi i gCo. an Chláir agus is Léachtóir le Mínealaín í i Scoil TUS na hEalaíne agus Deartha, Luimnigh.

Ba iad moltóirí Duais Portráide AIB ná Hughie O’Donoghue, ealaíontóir agus scríbhneoir; Emer McGarry, Stiúrthóir The Model, Sligeach; agus Simon O’Connor, Stiúrthóir Músaem Litríochta na hÉireann.

Agus é ag trácht ar an roghnú acu, dúirt an breitheamh Hughie O’Donoghue, “Mo comhghairdeas le gach ealaíontóir atá léirithe i dtaispeántas Dhuais Portráidé AIB 2024. Bhí caighdeán na saothar thar barr agus rinne sé seo an obair le haghaidh an buaiteoir a mheas thar a bheith deacair. Rinneamar, na moltóirí, machnamh ar feadh tamaill mhaith sular tháinig an comhdhearcadh orainn maidir leis an saothar ealaíne den scoth inár dtuairimí chomh maith leus an dhá shaothar eile ar ardmholadh. Is deis é an taispeántas féin le haghaidh raon agus uaillmhian ealaíontóirí na hÉireann sa lá atá inniu ann a fheiceáil agus ní mór d’éinne ar spéis leo cultúr agus ealaín na hÉireann á fheiceáil.”

Níos luaithe inniu, fógraíodh buaiteoirí Dhuais Portráide an Óige AIB freisin. Ba iad moltóirí duais na bliana seo ná Ashwin Chacko, údar-léiritheoir agus cainteoir inspreagtha; Emmalene Blake, físealaíontóir sráide a bhfuil cáil uirthi as a gcuid phortráidí ar scála mór; agus Sheena Barrett, Ceannasaí na Taighde agus na Foghlama ag Músaem Nua-Ealaíne na hÉireann. Roghnaigh na moltóirí buaiteoirí thar cheithre chatagóir aoise (6 bliana d’aois agus níos óige, 7-11, 12-15, agus 16-18), mar aon leis an oll-buaiteoir.

Dúirt Ashwin Chacko, “Ba mhór an onóir agus an taithí iontach dom gur iarraidh orm breith a thabhairt ar Dhuais Portráide AIB 2024. Chuir caighdeán na n-aighneachtaí i mbliana iontas orm, rud a rinne é níos deacra dúinne mar moltóirí na buaiteoirí a roghnú. Is cúis dóchais dom a fheiceáil nach bhfuil aon ghanntanas na tallainne againne in Éirinn agus gur féidir linn a bheith ag tnúth go bhfuil todhchaí geal i ndon dúinn.”
 
Roghnaíodh Aoibhe Devereux, 16 bhliain d’aois, mar oll-bhuaiteoir Dhuais Portráide an Óige AIB as a saothar Tumtha. Áirítear leis an duais bosca adhmaid d’ábhair ealaíne ar ardchaighdeáin chomh maith €500.

Séard a dúirt Aoife Devereux, “Is portráid é seo den dheartháir is óige liom ar ár laethanta saoire. Bhí mé ag iarraidh an nóiméad seo de a ghabháil go deo sa linn snámha leis na boghanna báistí ag damhsa ar a chraiceann, ionas go mbéinn in ann a óige agus an t-áthas a bhí air a chur síos. Bhain mé an-taitneamh as an bportráid seo a phéinteáil mar chuir sé síor i gcuimhne dom an spraoi ar fad a bhíonn aige ar ár laethanta saoire teaghlaigh chomh maith leis an spraoi a bhíonn againn le chéile. Sé seo an pictiúr is fearr liom de mar léiríonn sé go mór an buachaillata ann, leis spraoi a bhíonn aige i ngach rud, agus go háirithe sa tumadh faoin uisce.”

Bhuaigh Allanah McDonald Brown, 5 bhliain d’aois, an chatagóir is óige le Allanah the Mermaid, saothar na meáin mheasctha. Sa dara catagóir, bhuaigh Conor Mooney, 11 bhliain d’aois, le My Best Friend, saothar peann luaidhe agus pastail ola ar chanbhás. Ba é My Mother, saothar aicriligh ar chanbhás, le Zihan He, atá 15 bliana d’aois, buaiteoir an chatagóir d’aois 12-15. Bhuaigh Julia Kardas, 18 mbliain d’aois, an chatagóir deiridh le Dawn in Molten Blue, saothar aicrileach agus pastail ar pháipéar. Bronnadh bosca pearsanta d’ábhar ealaíne mar aon le duais €250 ar bhuaiteoir gach catagóire.

Dúirt an Dr Caroline Campbell, Stiúrthóir Gaileraí Náisiúnta na hEireann, “Cuireann caighdeán na n-iontrálacha i nDuais Portráide AIB agus i nDuais Portráide na nÓg mé ar mo shuaimhneas. Léiríonn gearrliosta na bliana seo do na duaiseanna éagsúlacht pobal nua-aimseartha na hÉireann agus dearcthaí ar leith ár gcuid ealaíontóirí. Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh lenár mbuaiteoirí a chuaigh i bhfeidhm ar na moltóirí agus ár gcuairteoirí lena gcuid chumais, moladh a thabhairt do gach ealaíontóir ar an ngearrliosta, agus buíochas a ghabháil le gach éinne a chuir isteach ar na comórtais. Táimid ag tnúth le fáilte a chur roimh i bhfad níos mó daoine ag na taispeántais ina n-iomlán inár nGailearaí na bPortráidí i rith an gheimhridh agus an earraigh.”

Dar le Colin Hunt, Príomhoifigeach Feidhmiúcháin AIB, “Seo an chéad bhliain ag AIB ag tacú le Duais na Portráide agus le Duais Portráide an Óige agus táimid thar a bheith bródúil as a bheith mar chuid den taispeántas dochreidte na bportráidí comhaimseartha seo in Éirinn. Cuireann sé an-áthas orainn an oiread ealaíontóirí cumasacha den scoth as gach aird na tíre a fheiceáil ar ghearrliosta na bliana seo agus comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis na buaiteoirí óga agus fásta as an rath acu. Mholfainn do gach éinine cuairt a thabhairt ar Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann chun cáilíocht na saothar atá ar taispeáint anso a fheiceáil dóibh féin.’’

Tá taispeántas Duais Portráide AIB, ina bhfuil an 26 saothar ar an ngearrliosta le feiceáil, ar oscailt anois i nGailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann. Mairfidh sé go dtí 09 Márta 2025 in éineacht le taispeántas Duais Portráide an Óige AIB ina bhfuil 20 portráid ar an ngearrliosta. Taispeánfar an dá thaispeántas freisin i dTeach agus Gairdíní Chill Airne sa bhliain 2025 ó 05 Aibreán – 20 Iúil 2025.

Tá tuilleadh eolais le feiceáil ag www.nationalgallery.ie.

CRÍOCH

Teagmhálaí na meáin:

Le Tabhairt faoi Deara ag an Eagarthóir:

Liostú an Taispeántais:

  • Duais Portráide AIB agus Duais Portráide na nÓg 2024
  • Gailearaí na bPortráidí (Seomra 23), Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann
  • 09 Samhain 2024 – 09 Márta 2025
  • Cead isteach saor in aisce

Uaireanta oscailte an Ghailearaí:

  • Dé Luain: 11rn – 5.30in
  • Dé Máirt – Dé Céadaoin: 9.15rn – 5.30in
  • Déardaoin: 9.15rn – 8.30in
  • Dé hAoine – Satharn: 9.15rn – 5.30in
  • Dé Domhnaigh: 11rn – 5.30in

Faoi Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann:

Tá Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann ar cheann de na hionaid is díol spéise do chuairteoirí sa tír ina bhfuil bailiúchán an náisiúin d’ealaín na hEorpa agus na hÉireann ó thart ar an mbliain 1300 go dtí an lá inniu le feicéail, chomh maith leis an Leabharlann agus leis an gCartlann fhairsing aige. Tá cead isteach sa bhailiúchán saor in aisce le haghaidh taitneamh, foghlaim agus spreagadh a bhaint as.

An bhliain 2024 ag Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann:

Tá 170 bliain ó bunaíodh an Dánlann tríd an Acht um Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann (1854) agus 160 bliain ó osclaíodh Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann ar an 30 Eanáir 1864 á gcomóradh sa bhliain 2024. D’fhoilsigh an Gailearaí plean straitéiseach nua le déanaí do thréimhse na mblianta 2024-28.

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Duais Portráide AIB:

Tá Duais Portráide AIB, arna oscailt d’ealaíontóirí 19 mbliain d’aois agus níos sine, ar siúl don aonú uair déag sa bhliain 2024 le AIB mar urraitheoir don chéad bhliain. Sí aidhm Dhuais Portráide AIB agus Dhuais Portráide an Óige ná an tsuim a léiriú agus a spreagadh sa phortráidíocht chomhaimseartha, tacú le tallann na hÉireann agus próifíl Bailiúcháin Náisiúnta na bPortráidí, atá ag forbairt le fada i nGailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann, a ardú.

Duais Portráide an Óige AIB:

Is comórtas cuimsitheach ealaíne é Duais Portráide an Óige AIB atá ar oscailt do leanaí agus do dhaoine óga de gach cumas, suas go dtí 18 mbliain d’aois, ó gach aít ar oileán na hÉireann.

Maidir le AIB

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