Highlanes Gallery Announce Bernie Masterson as Recipient of Janet Mullarney Prize

The life and work of Janet Mullarney has inspired the first Open Submission Exhibition and Competition from the Highlanes Gallery and it’s in her name that the first prize of €3,000 is awarded to an artist.

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

Highlanes Gallery 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 last two weeks have brought much reflection, enjoyment, engagement, and discussion as the gallery and 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.

The Open Submission Prizes each worth €500 have been awarded to: Alasdair Asmussen Doyle, Laura Fitzgerald, Helena Gorey, Elaine Grainger, Susan Buttner.

The full shortlist of artists who will exhibit in the Open Exhibition are: Thomas Brezing, Susan Buttner, Pauline Clancy, Jane Cummins, Amanda Doran, Alasdair Asmussen Doyle, Marta Dyczkowska, Isadora Epstein, Leanne Finnegan, Laura Fitzgerald, Harry Walsh Foreman, Saidhbhín Gibson, Kerry Guinan, Helena Gorey, John Graham, Elaine Grainger, Claire Halpin, Austin Hearne, Méabh Hennelly, Margaret Doyle Hobbs, Sharon Kelly, Bernadette Kiely, 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 Welsh, Dianne Whyte.

Highlanes Gallery thank most sincerely each and every one of the artists that took the time to enter their first Open Submission Exhibition and Competition, and look forward to sharing images, artworks, insight and artist’s statements over the next few weeks on each and every one of the works shortlisted.

All of the shortlisted works are being hung in an exhibition at the gallery which they will share with you via installation images, and a video that Highlanes Gallery are commissioning that we hope to share with you at the end of next week. While they can’t yet invite you to physically visit the gallery to view the exhibition, they are excited to share the artworks with you this way.

Source: Visual Artists Ireland News