A young Laois artist has been shortlisted for this year’s Zurich Young Portrait Prize at the National Gallery of Ireland.
Ayesha Siddique, who is just 14, has been shortlisted for her portrait ‘Ayesha’s portrait’.
The Portlaoise native’s work was created using acrylic and pencil on canvas, and will be on display at the Gallery later this year.
From hundreds of entries, 20 young artists aged between five and eighteen years old have been shortlisted for the Zurich Young Portrait Prize.
Five winners (one from each age category and an overall winner) will be selected from a shortlist of hundreds of entries by children and young people aged up to 18 from across the island of Ireland.
Winners will receive a bespoke art box and a cash prize.
This year’s Zurich Young Portrait Prize judges are: visual artist Aideen Barry; artist, art teacher and activist Joe Caslin; and Tadhg Crowley, Senior Curator: Education + Community at the Glucksman.
Exhibitions of shortlisted works in both competitions run at the National Gallery of Ireland between 13 November 2021 and 3 April 2022.
The exhibition will travel to Crawford Art Gallery, Cork, where it will be displayed between 23 April and 17 July 2022.
Sean Rainbird, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, said: “The Zurich Portrait Prizes at the National Gallery of Ireland continue to go from strength to strength.
“Our aim is to encourage interest in and excitement about contemporary portraiture, and we’re thrilled to have Zurich partnering with us once again as we do so.
“A terrific selection of works has been shortlisted this year for both competitions, and we look forward to the exhibitions later this year at the Gallery and next year in Crawford Art Gallery in Cork.”
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