The Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny is delighted to announce that we will host the AIB Portrait Prize 2025 and the AIB Young Portrait Prize 2025 from 4 April – 20 June 2026. This major touring exhibition from the National Gallery of Ireland will bring some of the finest examples of contemporary portraiture to Donegal.
The AIB Portrait Prize is one of the most significant competitions for visual artists in Ireland today, celebrating excellence and innovation in portraiture across a range of media. The 2025 shortlist features 26 artists, chosen by a distinguished panel of judges: artist Gareth Reid; Professor Emily Mark-FitzGerald (UCD); and Dr Barbara Dawson, Director of the Hugh Lane Gallery.
Among the finalists is Donegal artist Daniel Nelis, whose stunning work adds a strong local connection to this prestigious national exhibition.
The full shortlist for the AIB Portrait Prize 2025 is as follows:
- Peter Bradley – Pink Triangle
- Missy Brinkmeyer – Essence of Flow
- Enda Burke – Bruised Still Blooming
- Siobhán Clancy – Invasive
- David Creedon – Becky with her Bee Hives
- Ian Cumberland – The Boys
- Rebecca Ruth Ewnetu – Irish
- John Foley – Biddy Boy
- Shane Hynan – Residents of Coill Dubh Bord na Móna workers village built in 1952 and designed by Frank Gibney
- Joe Laverty – Declan, Lough Neagh Fisherman
- Miseon Lee – Blues
- Frances Leogue – Field Trip
- Nathan Lowry – Circle of Life
- Kenny McKendry – Ole Bendik
- Jillian Murphy – Here, is a Stranger
- Daniel Nelis – Late Spring
- Kevin O’Farrell – ‘Paul Simon’ (1972) cover version
- Áine O’Hara – Day 261 Bedbound/I miss ye
- Clodagh O’Leary – Never Be Without Your Horse
- Conor O’Leary – The Final Portrait
- Francis O’Toole – The Waste Land
- Misaki Parbrook – Crossing
- Kathy Raftery – Fireside Beauty Parlour
- Darren Ryan – Portrait Of The Artist As A Middle Aged Man
- Niamh Swanton – God, I Hope it All Goes Away
- Sean Taylor – AUDIBLE: A sound/video portrait of the University of Limerick Vikings American Football Team
Jeremy Howard, Director at the Regional Cultural Centre, said:
“We are thrilled to partner with the National Gallery of Ireland and Waterford Gallery of Art to present this important exhibition in Donegal. Having a Donegal artist, Daniel Nelis, represented on the shortlist makes this year’s exhibition even more meaningful for our audiences, offering a direct local connection to one of Ireland’s most prestigious contemporary art prizes.”
Following its premiere at the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin (November 2025 – February 2026), the exhibition will travel to the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny (April – June 2026) and then to Waterford Gallery of Art (July – October 2026).
For more information visit: https://www.nationalgallery.ie/art-and-artists/exhibitions/upcoming-exhibitions/aib-portrait-prize-2025
Daniel Nelis (Ramelton, Donegal), Late Spring. Oil on panel.