Artist Gerry Davis has been announced as the winner of the Hennessy Portrait Prize 2016, at an awards ceremony in the National Gallery of Ireland, hosts of the popular Portrait Prize exhibition.
Sean by Gerry Davis, winner of the Hennessy Portrait Prize 2016
Davis was awarded the prize of €15,000 for his work entitled Seán, and will now receive a commission worth €5,000 to produce a portrait for inclusion in the National Portrait Collection.
Originally from Cahir, Co. Tipperary, Gerry Davis graduated from the Limerick School of Art and Design in 2009 with a degree in Fine Art. He has been exhibiting regularly since, showing What Has Been Shall Always Never Be Again at the Ormston House, and staging a solo show Burrow at TACTIC.
Portrait Prize winner Gerry Davis, picture with his winning portrait and the portrait subject
In 2016, in addition to being awarded a merit prize at the Golden Fleece Award, Davis exhibited at the 186th RHA Annual Exhibition, and at a three-man show The Forest that Hears and the Field that Sees in Damer House, Roscrea. His solo show Studio was held at Pallas Projects, Dublin in October 2016.
Two highly commended artists were also announced at the event. They are Gavan McCullough for his portrait Imran, and Leanne Mullen, for her work Someone’s Mother.
Imran by Gavan McCullough, Highly Commended at this year's Hennessy Portrait Prize
Speaking on behalf of the judging panel, art critic Gemma Tipton commented: "Their work, and that of all the finalists, reflects the extraordinary diversity of humanity and the talent of these brilliant artists in capturing that, and reflecting it back to us. These art works are all also people, people that I almost feel I have now met."
Someone’s Mother by Leanne Mullen, Highly Commended at this year's Hennessy Portrait Prize
Now in its third year, the Hennessy Portrait Prize received over 400 entries, encompassing a wide range of media and materials, by artists living in Ireland and Irish artists abroad. The fourteen shortlisted artists will have their works exhibited in the National Gallery of Ireland until the end of March - more details here.
