2019 Zurich Portrait Prize opens for entries

The aim of the Zurich Portrait Prize is to showcase and encourage interest in contemporary portraiture, and to raise the profile of the long-standing and constantly evolving National Portrait Collection at the National Gallery of Ireland.

The Zurich Portrait Prize is open to artists working in all media. The winner will receive a cash prize of €15,000, and a commission worth €5,000, to create a work for inclusion in the National Portrait Collection. There will also be two awards of €1,500 for highly commended works.

For the first time the Zurich Portrait Prize exhibition will travel to a venue outside of Dublin. The exhibition opens in the National Gallery of Ireland on 5 October 2019 until 12 January 2020 and will then run at Crawford Art Gallery from January to April 2020.

The annual competition showcasing contemporary portraiture attracts entries from across the island of Ireland, and from Irish artists living abroad. The exhibition will feature a shortlist of portraits chosen by the 2019 judging panel: Mike Fitzpatrick, Head of Limerick School of Art and Design; Professor Fiona Kearney, founding Director of the Glucksman; and Mick O'Dea, artist and member of the RHA. 

Sean Rainbird, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland said, “As the Gallery continues to grow its national footprint, we’re thrilled to bring the Zurich Portrait Prize to Cork. Showcasing portraiture to new audiences at Crawford Art Gallery is a wonderful development in Zurich’s second year of involvement with the competition.”

Competition details are available here. Deadline for submissions is 20 June 2019.