Talk on Westmeath Artists Award at Luan Gallery

Luan Gallery, in collaboration with Westmeath Arts Office, hosted a Westmeath Artists Award Talk yesterday, Saturday January 17.

It featured a discussion between Miguel Amado, guest selector for the 2025 Westmeath Artists Award and curator of the exhibition Mythologies of the Personal and the Land; Nicola Gilchrest, Westmeath arts officer; and Carmel Duffy, manager of Luan Gallery, who explored the aims and significance of the award, the selection process, and guidelines for artists considering submitting to the 2026 award. Audience participation was be encouraged.

Following the panel discussion, Celine Sheridan, winner of the 2025 Westmeath Artists Award, joined Miguel Amado in conversation about her award-winning practice. Celine’s work is on display at Luan Gallery as part of the exhibition Mythologies of the Personal and the Land.

The Westmeath Artists Award is an annual collaboration between Luan Gallery and Westmeath Arts Office, supported by funding from the Arts Council of Ireland. The award aims to celebrate, showcase, and support the professional development of visual artists living in or from County Westmeath.

The current exhibition presents work by professional visual artists selected by Miguel Amado, director of Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh, County Cork.

All exhibiting artists were considered for a professional development award, which was announced at the exhibition opening.

The 2025 award recipient, Celine Sheridan, received the Luan Gallery Visual Arts Development Award, valued at €1,500, along with additional supports including a future solo exhibition at Luan Gallery, a studio residency at Abbey Road Artists Studios with a materials stipend, mentorship, and a studio visit from the guest curator.

Works by 30 artists are included in the exhibition, several of whom are exhibiting at Luan Gallery for the first time.

The exhibition highlights the diversity and quality of visual arts practice in the county and includes painting, mixed media, print, sculpture, video, photography, and installation.

Exhibiting artists are: Caroline Coyle, Martina Coyle, Teresa Doyle, Bertille de Lestrade, Mark Duffy, Helen Duncan, Lorraine Dunne, Mariia Golubeva, Tina Hayes, Lelia Henry, Liz Johnson, Fiona Kelly, Orla Kelly, Hilary Kinahan, Garry Loughlin, Ursula Meehan, Lorraine Mimnagh, Aishling Muller, Joan Mulvihill, Emma O’Brien, Valeriia Polushko, EL Putnam, Catherine Rock, Paul Roy, Mimi Seery, Nóilín Shaw, Celine Sheridan, Annette Treacy, Ann Wingfield and Lesley Wingfield.

The exhibition continues until Monday February 2.

Luan Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am–5pm, and Sunday, noon–5pm. Admission is free. Guided tours are available at no cost; groups are asked to book in advance.

Further information on the exhibition and upcoming events is available at athloneartsandtourism.ie/luan-gallery/ and on Luan Gallery’s social channels.

For further information, contact Luan Gallery at T: 090 6442154 or E: info@luangallery Instagram and Facebook or Carmel Duffy, manager, or Aoife Banks, curator, on T: 090 6442154