Anita Conway Wins Best Portrait at Kilkenny Portrait Show 2025
- ancheadtine
- Apr 3
- 2 min read
The opening of the 2nd ever Kilkenny Portrait Show 25 last Saturday was a truly special occasion, bringing together 84 talented artists, their families, friends and members of Ireland’s vibrant art community. The atmosphere was electric, with visitors admiring a stunning collective display of contemporary portraiture highlighting the depth and diversity of talent across the island.
Congratulations to Anita Conway – Best Portrait Winner
A huge congratulations to Anita Conway, whose remarkable portrait "Contemplative Gaze", depicting renowned Irish DJ and writer Annie Mac, was selected as the Best Portrait of the exhibition. Our selector, artist Bernadette Kiely (Aosdána), chose Anita’s work from the 84 exceptional pieces on display. This accolade, accompanied by a generous €1,000 prize from an anonymous sponsor, recognises Anita’s outstanding talent and contribution to contemporary Irish portraiture.
Anita is an artist and art teacher from Co. Wexford. She teaches Art, SPHE, and CSPE at Presentation Secondary School in Wexford, where she plays a key role in nurturing students' creativity. In 2022, Anita earned national recognition when she was selected from over 2,000 applicants to take part in Series 9 of Sky Arts’ Portrait Artist of the Year.
A Heartfelt Thank You
Such an ambitious exhibition would not be possible without the time, dedication and expertise of many individuals. Our deepest thanks to Bernadette Kiely for her meticulous selection process. Mary Doyle Burke, our in-house curator, did a fantastic job shaping the exhibition, with expert installation by Marco Di Sante. A special mention to Niamh Curry for her exceptional administrative support and the beautifully designed exhibition brochure, as well as Damien Cullen for his marketing efforts. Volunteer Liam O’Neill gave his invaluable time to assist, and a huge thanks to Blaise Smith for his continued support and stunning photography on the day. We are immensely grateful to our anonymous sponsor for their generosity in supporting Irish portrait artists.
Exhibition Open Until 26th April
For those who couldn’t attend the opening, there’s still plenty of time to visit this remarkable exhibition. Running until 26th April, the Kilkenny Portrait Show 2025 is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm and Sundays from 12 pm to 4 pm.
This is a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in the very best of contemporary Irish portraiture, so be sure to drop by An Chéad Tine Art Gallery before it closes.
Visit our Instagram for pictures from the day and further updates!
