Open Submission 2020

The life and work of Janet Mullarney has inspired our first Open Submission Exhibition and Competition, and it’s in her name that the first prize of €3,000 is awarded to an artist Bernie Masterson on 7th June 2020.

We developed the Open Submission to support and highlight new work by artists living in Ireland, to encourage interest and engagement with contemporary art, and to raise the profile of ambitious visual art in society, while also responding to the social constraints of the current global situation, and acknowledging that many visual artists continue to create and work, though now, many not in their studios, but in smaller spaces, and domestic environments.

The process has brought much enjoyment, engagement, and discussion as we at the gallery & the judges viewed the submissions, which exceeded 500, reflecting on the quality and breath of great art work, still continuing in the creative community of visual artists now.

An open submission process offers opportunity and challenge, also to the judges, as Joy Gerrard reflects in her response:

‘It was a great pleasure to see the talent, ambition and breadth of work submitted.’

Seán Kissane, Joy Gerrard and Jerome O Drisceoil were unanimous in their selection of the Janet Mullarney Prize winner who we are delighted to announce is artist Bernie Masterson for her video work Flight.

We are delighted to announce the full shortlist of artists are:

Thomas Brezing, Susan Buttner, Pauline Clancy, Jane Cummins, Amanda Doran, Alasdair Asmussen Doyle, Marta Dyczkowska, Isadora Epstein, Áine Byrne & Bureau Bonanza, Leanne Finnegan, Laura Fitzgerald, Harry Walsh Foreman, Saidhbhín Gibson, Kerry Guinan, Helena Gorey, John Graham, Elaine Grainger, Austin Hearne, Claire Halpin, Méabh Hennelly, Margaret Doyle Hobbs, Bernadette Kiely, Sharon Kelly, Dave Madigan, Bernie Masterson, Sinead Ni Mhaonaigh, Yvette Monahan, Kevin Mooney, Elva Mulchrone, Mark McGreevy, Niamh McGuinne, Astrid Newman, Noël O’Callaghan, Suzy O’Mullane, Kiera O’Toole, Bara Palcik, Emma Roche, Grainne Smith, Padraig Spillane, Jennifer Trouton, Mieke Vanmechelen, Lee Welch, Dianne Whyte.