Conor Horgan EDGE 53, 2024, from the series EDGE, courtesy of the artist and Photo Museum Ireland
The top prize of €10,000 of the inaugural Taylor Wessing Irish Photo Prize has been awarded to Conor Horgan for his work from the series EDGE. Addressing the emergence of barriers along Dublin’s Grand Canal and nearby areas in an attempt to deter homeless people seeking asylum from sleeping there, Horgan’s image focuses not on individuals but on the structures themselves. It invites viewers to consider the experiences of these men who after they arrived, were met with the opposite of what they most needed – protection.
Two Judges’ Selection Awards of €2,500 each were presented to Laura Dunwoody and Salem Anowe Chukwuezi for distinct and powerful perspectives on contemporary Ireland. Dunwoody’s series Nothing Lasts Forever offers an intimate and long-term portrait of youth and community in Ballymun, while Chukwuezi’s Covert showcases the reality for Black men in Ireland, making visible what often goes unseen. The Taylor Wessing Irish Photo Bursary of €10,000, which recognises an emerging artist whose practice shows exceptional promise, was awarded to Patryk Gizicki. His work explores youth culture and evolving ideas of identity and masculinity, offering a nuanced and personal perspective shaped by his Polish heritage and Irish upbringing.
Presented in partnership with Taylor Wessing and Photo Museum Ireland and facilitated by Business to Arts, the prize establishes a national platform for photography, offering unprecedented visibility and support for artists at all stages of their careers. As the largest combined prize fund for contemporary photography in Ireland, the initiative marks a significant investment in the country’s cultural life. The Taylor Wessing Irish Photo Prize exhibition is at Photo Museum Ireland, Dublin from April 22 to May 24.
