Waterford born and 2004 Crawford College graduate Aidan Crotty has been announced as the winner of this years Zurich Portrait Prize at the National Gallery of Ireland. Portrait of a Boy, Morning depicts the artist’s eldest son Rían at eight years of age. The painting began when schools were closed and movement was restricted as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. In his statement about the portrait, Aidan Crotty said, “Absorbed in the notable quiet, Rían turns to feel the morning light warm his face. As we moved from Spring into Summer this painting gave a basic structure to start the day and is a record of our time in confinement.”
Eva McParland (age 14) was selected as the overall winner of the Zurich Young Portrait Prize and Conor McPolin (age 6) won the youngest category.
The Zurich Portrait Prize exhibition featuring the winner alongside 25 other shortlisted works, is open at the National Gallery of Ireland. It will run until next March 21 alongside the Zurich Young Portrait Prize exhibition of 20 shortlisted portraits. Both exhibitions will travel to Crawford Art Gallery in Cork in 2021.
