Social Pics: Hennessy Portrait Prize 2016

Last night guests gathered at the National Gallery of Ireland as the winner of the Hennessy Portrait Prize 2016 was announced. Gerry Davis was selected by a panel of four judges for his work, entitled S?an. The judges, Jackie Nickerson, Gemma Tipton, Dr Adriaan Waiboer, and Peter Murray, presented Gerry with a prize of €15,000 and a commission worth €5,000 to produce a portrait for inclusion in the National Portrait Collection. Two highly commended artists were also announced as part of this year’s event. Leanne Mullen for her oil on canvas entitled Someone’s Mother – and Gavan McCullough for Imran.

On arrival, guests were welcomed with a choice of two Hennessy cocktails; the Hennessy Sidecar and Hennessy & Ginger. These were expertly paired with delicious canap’s, including spiced feta cheese, Vietnamese spring rolls and mini quiche Lorraine tarts?as guests moved between The Winter Garden and the Hennessy Portrait Exhibition to view the works.

Guests in attendance included Ali Hewson, artist, Robert Ballagh, Ruairi Quinn T.D., Sarah Glennie, director of IMMA and designer Pauric Sweeney, as well as fashion illustrator Conor Merriman, stylist, Cathy O’Connor, designer, Helen James and the winner of the 2015 Hennessy Portrait Prize, Vera Klute.

Representatives from Mo?t Hennessy also enjoyed the event, including Maurice Hennessy, Ambassadeur de la Maison Hennessy, Ian Fitchew, sales director Mo?t Hennessy UK, and Vincent Borjon-Prive, business director Mo?t Hennessy Ireland. Elaine Cullen, Marketing Development Manager for Mo?t Hennessy Ireland, and Andy O?Hara, CEO of Edward Dillon were also in attendance.

The Hennessy Portrait Prize was launched in March 2014. Open to artists in all disciplines, the aim 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.

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