Portmarnock photographer is shortlisted for portrait prize

THE Hennessy Portrait Prize aims to showcase interest in contemporary portraiture, raising the profile of the constantly evolving National Portrait Collection at the National Gallery of Ireland.

There were 370 entries for this year’s prize and Portmarnock native Kim Haughton was one of the 14 shortlisted artists. 

Kim’s photographic study of actor Gabriel Byrne was made in his New York apartment in 2015 while he was preparing for his role as James Tyrone in the play, ‘Long Day’s Journey into Night’, on Broadway. 

It’s part of Kim’s series, ‘Portrait of a Century’, which explores Ireland’s identity, nationhood and ethnicity.  

“I asked him (Byrne) where his favourite place to sit was and he motioned to the red velvet chair,” says Kim. 

“During the portrait session we spoke to each other a lot. 

“Normally I try to say very little but we started a conversation about a photograph’s ability to create a truthful representation of the subject and what kinds of ethical considerations are made around that process. 

“In portraiture, I look for that space between making a subject feel comfortable and capturing their true selves. 

“This photograph was made during a pause in the conversation. He appears to be in deep contemplation. I felt he had a keen awareness and respect for the entire process.” 

Kim, a photographic artist based between Dublin and New York, holds an MA in Documentary Photography from University of the Arts, London. 

In 2015, she held her first solo exhibition at the Gallery of Photography in Dublin and was nominated for the Prix Pictet award. 

Her images have appeared in publications worldwide including the Sunday Times Magazine, FT Magazine and Vanity Fair. She was named by TIME magazine as one of the top nine Irish photographers to watch.