See The Incredible Irish Artists on The Shortlist for The Zurich Portrait Prize 2023

46 artists have been shortlisted from 13 counties across the island of Ireland in the National Gallery of Ireland’s Zurich Portrait Prize competition …

Main Image; Paul MacCormaic,’Annie Murphy,’ 2023.

WHAT: Dr Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, explains, “With the annual Zurich Portrait Prize and Zurich Young Portrait Prize, our aim is to showcase the work of Irish artists and encourage an interest in contemporary Irish portraiture. Each year, the artists shortlisted demonstrate an incredible breadth of Irish artistic talent. We’re proud to partner with Zurich Insurance plc once again this year and we look forward to seeing who and what has inspired artists of all ages to create portraits in 2023.” 26 artists, working across a variety of media, have made it through to the final stage of the Zurich Portrait Prize, while 20 young artists aged between four and 18 have been shortlisted for the Zurich Young Portrait Prize.

Lee-Welch,-Jerry-Saltz-as-Michelangelo-David,-2023

Lee Welch, Jerry Saltz as Michealangelo “David”, 2023

HOW: The Zurich Portrait Prize shortlist includes painting, sculpture and photography, demonstrating the breadth of contemporary Irish art. The winner will receive a prize of €15,000 and will be commissioned to create a work for the national portrait collection, for which they will be awarded a further €5,000.

Two additional awards of €1,500 will be given to highly commended works. Judges for the Zurich Portrait Prize are Dorothy Cross RHA, artist, Dr Nicholas Cullinan, Director, National Portrait Gallery, London, and Anne Stewart, Senior Curator of Art, National Museums Northern Ireland.

Lynn Kennedy, Orpen Minded, 2023

WHEN: Exhibitions of the shortlisted works in both competitions run at the National Gallery of Ireland from December 2 2023 and March 10 2024.

Ellius Grace, Sinéad O’Connor in Her Garden, 2021

WHO: Shortlisted artists for the Zurich Portrait Prize 2023 at the National Gallery of Ireland are:

Gerry Blake (Wicklow), Courtney, living on a bus, 2021, photograph

Jana Bulochova (Dublin), Infinite Self, 2021, photograph

Leo Byrne (Dublin), Sheik Mikailu Bah, 2022, photograph

Comhghall Casey (Tyrone/Dublin), Self Portrait, 2020, oil on board

Ana Colomer (Clare), (sea)Urchin, 2023, acrylic on tondo canvas

Shane Coughlan (Dublin), Patrick, back from the shops, 2023, photograph

Jonathan Daczkowski (Dublin), Chloe McCarthy, 2023, photograph

Aisling Dunne (Dublin), Before and After, 2023, photograph

Kit French (Cork), Self – Portrait – Light Through the Window, 2022, oil on canvas

Ellius Grace (Dublin), Sinéad O’Connor in Her Garden, 2021, photograph

Vanessa Jones (Dublin), Wall (self-portrait), 2022, oil on linen

Lynn Kennedy (Dublin), Orpen Minded, 2023, oil on canvas

Marie Le Men (Dublin), Seán Hillen, 2023, watercolour on paper

Sarah Liddane (Kerry), Waiting for inspiration, 2023, graphite and charcoal on paper

Paul MacCormaic (Dublin), Annie Murphy, former lover of Bishop Eamonn Casey, Mother of Peter Casey, at her home in California, 2023, acrylic and oil on canvas

Ryan O’Sullivan (Cork), Life’s a Drag, 2023, photograph

Mantas Poderys (Donegal), Shota, 2021, pastel on cotton paper

Katie Prior (Dublin), Self Portrait in Compact Mirror, 2023, oil on board

Sorcha Frances Ryder (Dublin), Wide Awake, 2023, photograph

David Sexton (Dublin), Jyellowl, 2021, photograph

Darragh Shanahan (Dublin), Lara, 2022, pinhole photograph

Marie Smith (Cavan), Armand, 2023, fired clay on wooden stand

David Stephenson (Wicklow), Ann and Ollie, Main Street, Wexford, 2023, photograph

Bob Tait (Dublin), Jim, 2023, photograph

Lee Welch (Dublin), Jerry Saltz as Michelangelo “David”, 2023, acrylic on polyester

Adrian Wojtas (Meath/Dublin), Manou, 2023, photograph

Find out more at www.nationalgallery.ie