In days gone by it was only the rich and powerful who had their portraits painted but in Sligo that old-fashioned tradition has been consigned to history with a new exhibition featuring children from diverse backgrounds living in the county.
'The Sunset Belongs to You' features portraits of 18 Sligo children by painters Mick O'Dea and Geraldine O'Neill which were commissioned by The Model.
Director of The Model, Emer McGarry, said that the exhibition "challenges the ingrained traditional structures of portraiture" and that it also challenges who can be "reflected in a public art collection, and who is overlooked".
"Sligo communities who have been under-represented in the past, will now be made visible within the public collection of their local museum" he said.
In the past, Ms McGarry said it was only wealthy people who could commission portraits of themselves and that works we often see in galleries tend to be those of politicians, aristocrats or other famous people.
"We wanted to say to these children that they can be part of change and be part of a bright, democratic future for Ireland."
It is a "hopeful glimpse into the Ireland of the future," she added.
Adam Carty's portrait now hangs in the gallery alongside famous faces from the past and reckons he could become famous as a result.
He is depicted working with his step-grandfather on the farm because farming is a huge part of his life.
He feels the portrait will give someone looking at it in 100 years an insight to farm life now, and he thinks a future version of this scene may involve machines instead of people.
Riona Bonner says looking at her portrait is like looking in a mirror, it is life-size and done so well.
She says it is cool to think that she will always be remembered because she will be hanging in a gallery somewhere.
Esmee Dolan is equally impressed with her portrait which she says is very realistic.
She said that she got a bit bored sitting for three hours while she was painted but she said she didn't really mind because she was so excited to see the end result – and when she did see she was delighted.
Tom O'Hara was totally taken by the whole experience and really believes in the idea of moving from painting the rich and famous to painting portraits of local children.
He has a huge interest in art and would like to be an artist himself, or a professional footballer some day.
Another young lady whose portrait occupies one of the best spots in the gallery is Nova Clancy and she's hoping it will catch someone's eye because she would like to become known as a model.
Emer McGarry said the artists gave their time very generously, and got to know each of the children.
She said the magic of those relationships comes across in the finished works.
The Model is the home of The Niland Collection which includes works by John Butler Yeats, Estella Solomons and George William Russell (AE).
Ms McGarry says the portraits will become part of that collection "where they will have a meaningful presence alongside portraits of historic public figures, activists, artists and other changemakers".
The title of the exhibition, "The Sunset Belongs to You" is named after a painting by Jack Butler Yeats and Ms McGarry said "it is an inclusive reflection of contemporary society, in all its diversity and richness that will live on in Sligo's municipal art collection as a historical document into the future."
