Mayo artist to judge Zurich Young Portrait Prize

THE National Gallery of Ireland has announced writer and activist Sinéad Burke, photographer and filmmaker Perry Ogden, and young Mayo artist Hetty Lawlor as judges for this year’s Zurich Young Portrait Prize.

This inclusive art competition invites children and young people to create a portrait of themselves or someone they know.

Hetty (19) was a finalist in the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year two years ago. She won the Texaco Children’s Art Competition in 2018 and represented Ireland at the International High Schools Arts Festival 2018 in Tokyo.

In March 2019, Lawlor was one of five Irish women artists who took part in the St. Brigit’s festival exhibition in the Irish Embassy in London. She has a successful submission in the 189th Annual RHA exhibition for 2019 and is currently working on a commission to paint retired Supreme Court Judge Justice Mary Laffoy for the Bar of Ireland.

The Zurich Young Portrait Prize is for children and young people of all abilities aged up to 18 from across the island of Ireland. It is open to submissions until June 21. Entry to the competition is digital and free of charge. See www.nationalgallery.ie.

Finalists in four categories (ages 6 and under, ages 7-11, ages 12-15 and ages 16-18) will be given the unique opportunity for their work to be professionally displayed at the National Gallery of Ireland, home to thousands of masterpieces. One work from each category selected by the judges as outstanding will additionally receive a bespoke art box containing personalised high quality art materials and a cash prize of €250.

The Zurich Young Portrait Prize is sponsored by Zurich.