Two young Kildare artists shortlisted for national portrait awards
Shane Hynan, 'Residents of Coill Dubh'
TWO very different Kildare artists have been nominated for the shortlists for the AIB’s National Portrait, and Young Portrait Prize announced by the National Gallery of Ireland.
Four-year-old Abigail Leonard, from Sallins, is this year’s youngest shortlisted artist with her work ‘Rainy Day’ - a work in pencil, charcoal, collage and paint on paper.
Carbury native Shane Hynan has also been shortlisted along with 25 other artists for the AIB Portrait Prize with his photograph ‘Residents of Coill Dubh Bord na Móna workers village’ built in 1952 and designed by Frank Gibney.
The photo features Owen Denneny, Peadar Cosgrove, Josie Byrne, Ray Lenehan and Ann Moore, the photograph is from the collaborative and community engaged project ‘Tóch’ or ‘Dig’.
The AIB Portrait Prize shortlists includes paintings, video and photography by artists from across the country.
The winner will receive a cash 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.
The AIB Young Portrait Prize returns for its seventh year in 2025, showcasing the artistic talent of young people aged 18 and under.
Five winners (one from each respective age category and an overall winner) will be selected from the shortlist, with winners receiving a bespoke art box and a cash prize of €500.
Exhibitions of the shortlisted works in both competitions will be on display in the Portrait Gallery (Room 23) in the National Gallery of Ireland from 8 November– 15 March.
