Gerry Davis wins Hennessy Portrait Prize 2016

Gerry Davis was last night announced as the winner of the Hennessy Portrait Prize 2016 at an awards ceremony in the National Gallery of Ireland. Gerry was awarded the prize of €15,000 for his work entitled ‘Seán’ (oil on board, 28x23cm), and will also 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 (painting). 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. 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 last night as part of this year’s event. They are; Gavan McCullough for his portrait Imran (oil on canvas, 100x90cm), and Leanne Mullen, for her work Someone’s Mother (oil on canvas, 40x40cm).

Speaking on behalf of the judging panel, Gemma Tipton said: “Our congratulations to Gerry Davis for his winning portrait of ‘Seán’. And to the highly commended artists, Gavan McCullough and Leanne Mullen for their portraits of ‘Imran’ and ‘Someone’s Mother’ respectively. 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. I would like to thank my fellow judges on the panel and all the artists who entered the competition.”

Now in its third year, the Hennessy Portrait Price 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, chosen by the judging panel comprising of Jackie Nickerson (documentary photographer), Gemma Tipton (art critic), Dr Adriaan Waiboer (Head Curator, National Gallery of Ireland) and Peter Murray (Director of the Crawford Art Gallery in Cork), will have their works exhibited in the National Gallery of Ireland until Sunday, 26 March, 2017.

Commenting Elaine Cullen, market development manager for Moët Hennessy said: “It’s heartening to see such a large number and wide range of high quality entries again this year for the third Hennessy Portrait Prize. The shortlisted artists have each produced terrific, distinctive works that leave a lasting impression. Discovering the wealth of gifted Irish talent through the Hennessy Portrait Prize is deeply humbling. Hennessy looks forward to acknowledging and exhibiting the work of many more Irish artists, with the National Gallery of Ireland, for years to come.”

The Hennessy Portrait Prize was launched in March 2014. Open to artists in all disciplines, the aim of the competition is to showcase and encourage interest in contemporary portraiture, and to raise the profile of the National Portrait Collection at the National Gallery of Ireland. www.nationalgallery.ie

The exhibition of shortlisted works is on display in the National Gallery of Ireland until 26 March 2017. Admission is free. Catalogue from the Gallery Shop (€5).