Mullingar artist Patrick Graham named in 2016 Savills Prize list

Mullingar artist Patrick Graham will compete for the biggest prize in Irish contemporary art at Vue 2016 at the Royal Hibernian Association gallery from November 3-6.

The €5,000 Vue Contemporary Art Prize presented by Savills will be awarded to the artist who has produced an outstanding body of work in the last year or made some other substantial contribution to the visual arts in Ireland.

Nineteen of Ireland’s leading contemporary art galleries have each nominated an artist as a contender for the prize and RHA director Dr Patrick Murphy, who has an extensive track record as a curator of contemporary Irish art, will adjudicate.

Graham has been nominated by the Hillsboro Fine Art gallery, where he completed the ‘Lullaby’ series, which he launched at the Luan gallery in Athlone in August.

“Graham has long been considered ‘Ireland's finest draughtsman’ and a genuine ‘artist's artist’, but these much-abused terms, though undoubtedly apt in relation to Graham, do not capture the truly powerful nature of his work,” said John Daly, gallery director at Hillsboro Fine Art.

“Graham’s paintings and drawings are a magnificent and unique balancing act of strength and fragility.”

Last year’s prize was awarded to abstract artist Richard Gorman who collaborated with Stoney Road Press for his series ‘Kan’ – three monumental (150 x 110cm) carborundum prints on handmade Indian paper.

"This is only the second year the Savills Art Prize has been presented at Vue and we hope the award will become as important to Irish art as the Turner Prize is in the UK," said Vue 2016 organiser Louis O’Sullivan.

“Savills are the perfect partner to present the Prize as most art is found in homes and businesses, and not just museums.

“Vue 2016 is a great opportunity for collectors and investors to experience some of the best contemporary art currently being created in Ireland, and to get some expert advice and guidance from leading galleries."

Opening hours for Vue 2016 are 6-8pm on Thursday, November 3, 11am-8pm on Friday, November 4, 11am-7pm on Saturday, November 5, and 12-6pm on Sunday, November 6.