National Gallery of Ireland unveils portraits of actors Ruth Negga and Stephen Rea

Commissioned works by artist David Booth and David Stephenson now on display to public

Portraits of renowned Irish actors Ruth Negga and Stephen Rea have been unveiled at the National Gallery of Ireland this week. The works are by Dublin painter David Booth (Ruth, 2025, oil on board) and Wicklow-based photographer David Stephenson (Stephen Rea (b.1946 Belfast), actor, 2025, photograph on archival paper). Both artists were winners of the Portrait Prize at the National Gallery of Ireland: Booth in 2022 for his work Salvatore, a portrait of his friend and fellow artist Salvatore of Lucan; and Stephenson in 2023 for his photograph Ann and Ollie, Main Street, Wexford.

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Ruth, 2025, by David Booth

Actor and producer Ruth Negga was born in Addis Ababa, raised in Limerick, and studied at Trinity College Dublin and the British American Drama Academy. She is known for her critically acclaimed performances on stage and screen, among them roles in the movies Breakfast on Pluto (2005), Loving (2021) and Passing (2021). She has appeared in many television productions, and received several nominations and awards. In 2025 she received her second Emmy nomination, for her role in the television series Presumed Innocent. In 2017, she received an Oscar nomination in the Actress in a Lead Role category for her performance in Loving, directed by Jeff Nichols.

Having completed a BFA at Wexford Campus School of Art in 2013, David Booth moved to Dublin to establish himself as a full-time artist. He has exhibited both in Ireland and abroad, won the Evans Painting Prize in 2016, and was shortlisted for the BP Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery in London in 2019. This commissioned portrait of Ruth Negga is part of the Portrait Prize 2022 (then the Zurich Portrait Prize). Booth was shortlisted for the prize on two earlier occasions (2018 and 2020). His work features in both public and private collections in Ireland.

Booth considered many possible settings when preparing his portrait of the actor. These included Trinity College, where Ruth Negga had studied, and a coffee shop he knew she had frequented. He and his subject finally settled on the courtyard in the National Gallery of Ireland, as it provided filtered light that would ensure good preparatory photographs. Booth wanted his subject to be looking directly at the viewer, and though he took scores of photographs, he ended up using his first as the basis for his painting.

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Stephen Rea (b.1946 Belfast), actor, 2025 by David Stephenson

Actor Stephen Rea was born in Belfast. He attended Belfast High School and Queen’s University before enrolling at the Abbey Theatre School in Dublin. His international breakthrough came with his portrayal of Fergus in The Crying Game (1992), directed by Neil Jordan, for which he received an Oscar nomination. Other movie credits include Interview with a Vampire (1994), Michael Collins (1996), and The End of the Affair (1999). He has been involved in several notable television productions. Rea has also enjoyed a celebrated career on stage, collaborating on several occasions with American playwright Sam Shepard. Rea has received many nominations and awards for his performances on stage and screen, and has been conferred with honorary degrees from both Queen’s University, Belfast, and the University of Ulster.

David Stephenson’s projects as a photographer and filmmaker have taken him all over the world. He has completed commissions for NGOs including Trócaire and Self Help International. He has worked extensively in Central America and Africa, as well as in Kosovo and throughout Ireland. Stephenson has won several awards, including best film at both the Fastnet Festival (2016) and the Belfast Film Festival (2017), for his documentary film Raymond, an elegiac portrait of an old man’s recollections of life on the border in Cavan. He has exhibited in Ireland, the UK and beyond, and is represented in public collections in Dublin.

Stephenson took the photograph in the back garden of Stephen Rea’s Dublin home. The sparseness of the ivy on an old wall behind Rea instantly appealed to Stephenson and made for an ideal backdrop for an informal head and shoulders study of this kind. Stephenson was mindful of the fact that his subject was ‘a public figure, but… also a very private person’ and wanted to capture this ‘interesting contradiction’ in his portrait. When shown the photograph by Stephenson, Rea remained quiet before saying ‘It’s me’.

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The national portrait collection at the National Gallery of Ireland celebrates the most influential figures in Irish history. The fields of Irish endeavour represented range from sport, literature and broadcasting to theatre and social justice. These two new portraits are now on display to the public, for free, in the Portrait Gallery at the National Gallery of Ireland.

The annual AIB Portrait Prize and AIB Young Portrait Prize competitions and exhibitions run in 2025, celebrating contemporary portraiture by Irish artists of all ages from Ireland and abroad. Shortlists for both competitions were announced in August 2025 and the exhibitions will open at the Gallery in November 2025.

Dr Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, said: “It’s an absolute honour for the National Gallery of Ireland to unveil these magnificent portraits to the public. Artists David Stephenson and David Booth were terrific and worthy winners of our Portrait Prize in 2022 and 2023. We are so proud to see their portraits of Ruth Negga and Stephen Rea – actors who have added so much to the Irish cultural tapestry both at home and abroad – hang on our walls today.”

Actor Ruth Negga said: “It has been a total and complete privilege to be the sitter for David’s work. Thank you to both David and the National Gallery of Ireland. Luckily for me he appears to have infused my portrait with his own qualities of grace, tenderness and that thing that I believe is crucial to art; a sense of the mysterious. Thank you for this extraordinary honour.”

Artist David Booth said: “It’s truly an honour to have this portrait of Ruth unveiled at the National Gallery of Ireland. My aim from the outset was for her gaze to confront the viewer directly, establishing a powerful sense of presence and immediacy. Our collaboration throughout the process was one of friendship and openness, which shaped the portrait deeply. I hope the portrait brings viewers close, offering a sense of her warmth, resilience, and unmistakable presence.”

Actor Stephen Rea said: “The decision by the National Gallery of Ireland to include my photograph, created by the wonderful David Stephenson, in its permanent collection, is a huge and totally unexpected compliment. I am overwhelmed.”

Artist David Stephenson said: “Stephen is great company. We met in his lovely country house, his sanctuary. There’s an old wall with sparse winter ivy in his garden which I thought would make an interesting background. I love the idea of interiority in a portrait. The human face reveals so much but can also hide a lot. There’s an interesting contradiction with Stephen between his public and private personas. I think this black and white portrait is a private moment caught between the two.”

The Gallery would like to thank the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport for its ongoing support.

ENDS

Media contacts:

• Kate O’Leary, Communications, Marketing & Digital Engagement Manager, National Gallery of Ireland, Email: [email protected]

Notes to editor:

• Images are available upon request
• Images from the unveilings will be circulated by Naoise Culhane on 04 September.
• Artists and sitters may be available for interview upon request.
• Dr Caroline Campbell (Director, National Gallery of Ireland) is available for interview.

Information on artworks: 

David Booth (b.1986 Dublin)
Ruth
2025
Oil on board
80 x 60 cm

David Stephenson (b.1955 Dublin)
Stephen Rea (b.1946 Belfast), actor
2025
Photograph on archival paper
76.2 x 54.4 cm

About the National Gallery of Ireland:

The National Gallery of Ireland is one of the country’s most popular visitor attractions housing the nation’s collection of European and Irish art from about 1300 to the present day, and an extensive Library & Archive. Entry to the collection is free for all to enjoy, learn and be inspired. Tickets are required for some temporary exhibitions. 

Web: nationalgallery.ie   
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LinkedIn: @nationalGalleryofIreland

Portráidí d’aisteoirí á dtaispeáint i nGailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann Ruth Negga agus Stephen Rea

Saothair choimisiúnaithe leis na healaíontóirí David Booth agus David Stephenson ar taispeáint don phobal anois

Tá portráidí de na haisteoirí cáiliúla Éireannacha, Ruth Negga agus Stephen Rea, curtha ar taispeáint i nGailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann an tseachtain seo. Is é an péintéir de bhunadh Bhaile Átha Cliath, David Booth (Ruth, 2025, olaphictiúr ar chlár) agus an grianghrafadóir de bhunadh Chill Mhantáin,  David Stephenson (Stephen Rea (1946 Béal Feirste), aisteoir, 2025, grianghraf ar pháipéar cartlainne) atá freagrach as na saothair seo. Bronnadh an Duais Portráide orthu beirt i nGailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann: Bronnadh an Duais ar Booth sa bhliain 2022 dá shaothar dar teideal Salvatore, portráid dá chara agus comhealaíontóir, Salvatore of Lucan; agus bronnadh an Duais ar Stephenson in 2023 dá ghrianghraf dar teideal Ann agus Ollie, An tSráid Mhór, Loch Garman.

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Ruth, 2025, le David Booth

Rugadh an t-aisteoir agus léiritheoir Ruth Negga in Addis Ababa. Ba i Luimneach a tógadh í agus chaith sí tamall ag staidéar i gColáiste na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath agus in Acadamh Drámaíochta na Breataine-Mheiriceá. Bhain sí cáil amach di féin mar thoradh ar na róil a bhí aici ar an stáitse agus ar an scáileán, ina measc sin a róil sna scannáin Breakfast on Pluto (2005), Loving (2021) agus Passing (2021). Tá sí le feiceáil in go leor léirithe teilifíse, agus tá roinnt mhaith ainmniúchán agus gradam faighte aici. In 2025 ainmníodh í do Ghradam Emmy don dara huair, dá ról sa tsraith teilifíse Presumed Innocent. In 2017, ainmníodh í do ghradam Oscar sa chatagóir Aisteoir sa Phríomhpháirt dá ról in Loving, léirithe ag Jeff Nichols.

I ndiaidh dó BFA a dhéanamh i Scoil Ealaíne Champas Loch Garman in 2013, thug David Booth aghaidh ar Bhaile Átha Cliath agus é mar aidhm aige a bheith ag obair mar ealaíontóir lánaimseartha. Thaispeáin sé saothar dá chuid in Éirinn agus thar lear, bronnadh Duais Péinteála Evans air in 2016, agus gearrliostaíodh é do Dhuais Portráide BP sa Ghailearaí Náisiúnta Portráidí i Londain in 2019. Is cuid de Dhuais Portráide 2022 (Duais Portráide Zurich an t-am sin) í an phortráid choimisiúnaithe seo de Ruth Negga. Gearrliostaíodh Booth don duais dhá huair roimhe sin (2018 agus 2020). Tá saothar dá chuid le fáil i mbailiúcháin phoiblí agus phríobháideacha in Éirinn.

Rinne Booth a mhachnamh ar go leor suíomhanna éagsúla nuair a bhí a phortráid den aisteoir á hullmhú aige. Ina measc bhí Coláiste na Tríonóide, áit ar chaith Ruth Negga seal ag staidéar, agus siopa caife a raibh a fhios ag David go raibh sé de nós ag Ruth a bheith ag triall air. I ndeireadh na dála, chinn sé féin agus a shuibiacht an clós i nGailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann a roghnú mar shuíomh don phortráid, de bhrí go raibh solas scagtha ann a chiallaigh go bhféadfadh sé grianghraif ullmhúcháin mhaithe a ghlacadh. Bhí Booth ag iarraidh go mbeadh a shuibiacht ag breathnú go díreach ar an mbreathnóir, agus ainneoin gur ghlac sé neart grianghraf, i ndeireadh na dála d’úsáid sé an chéad ghrianghraf a ghlac sé mar bhonn lena phictiúr.

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Stephen Rea (1946 Béal Feirste), aisteoir, 2025 le David Stephenson

Ba i mBéal Feirste a rugadh an t-aisteoir Stephen Rea. D’fhreastail sé ar Ardscoil Bhéal Feirste agus ar Ollscoil na Banríona sular chláraigh sé i Scoil Amharclann na Mainistreach i mBaile Átha Cliath. Bhain sé cáil idirnáisiúnta amach mar gheall ar an léargas a thug sé ar Fergus in The Crying Game (1992), léirithe ag Neil Jordan, léargas a thuill ainmniúchán Oscar dó. I measc na scannán eile ar ghlac sé páirt iontu bhí Interview with a Vampire (1994), Michael Collins (1996), agus The End of the Affair (1999). Ghlac sé páirt i roinnt léirithe teilifíse cáiliúla freisin. Bhí rath ar a chuid oibre ar an stáitse freisin, d’oibrigh sé i gcomhpháirt leis an drámadóir Meiriceánach, Sam Shepard, roinnt uaireanta. Tá neart ainmniúchán agus duaiseanna faighte ag Rea dá shaothar ar an stáitse agus ar an scáileán, agus tá céimeanna oinigh bronnta ag Ollscoil na Banríona, Béal Feirste agus ag Ollscoil Uladh air.

Tá an domhan siúlta ag David Stephenson mar ghrianghrafadóir agus mar scannánóir. Tá coimisiúin curtha i gcrích aige do ENRanna, Trócaire agus Self Help International ina measc. Tá go leor oibre déanta aige i Meiriceá Láir agus san Afraic, agus sa Chosaiv agus in Éirinn freisin. Tá roinnt duaiseanna bronnta ar Stephenson, lena n-áirítear duais don scannán is fearr ag Féile Charraig Aonair (2016) agus ag Féile Scannán Bhéal Feirste (2017), dá chlár faisnéise Raymond, portráid mharbhnaí de chuimhní cinn seanfhir maidir leis an gcineál saoil a caitheadh ag an teorainn in An Cabhán. Tá saothar dá chuid curtha ar taispeáint in Éirinn, sa Ríocht Aontaithe agus níos faide ó bhaile, agus tá saothar dá chuid le fáil i mbailiúcháin phoiblí i mBaile Átha Cliath.

Ghlac Stephenson an grianghraf sa ghairdín cúil i dteach Stephen Rea i mBaile Átha Cliath. Mhúscail loime an eidhneáin ar an seanbhalla taobh thiar de Rea spéis Stephenson láithreach agus cúlra oiriúnach a bhí ann do staidéar neamhfhoirmiúil cloiginn agus guaillí den chineál seo. Bhí Stephenson airdeallach ar an bpointe gur ‘pearsa phoiblí a shuibiacht, ach… duine an-phríobháideach freisin’ agus theastaigh uaidh an ‘neamhréiteach spéisiúil’ seo a thabhairt chun beochta ina phortráid. Nuair a thaispeáin Stephenson an grianghraf do Rea d’fhan sé ina thost ar dtús agus ina dhiaidh sin dúirt sé ‘Sin mise’.

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Is ceiliúradh é an bailiúchán náisiúnta portráidí i nGailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann ar phearsana mór le rá i stair na hÉireann. I measc na réimsí den saol Éireannach a léirítear sa bhailiúchán tá cúrsaí spóirt, litríochta agus craolacháin, mar aon le cúrsaí amharclannaíochta agus ceartais shóisialta. Tá an dá phortráid nua seo ar taispeáint don phobal anois, saor in aisce, sa Ghailearaí Portráidí i nGailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann.

Beidh comórtas bliantúil Dhuais Portráide AIB agus Dhuais Portráide AIB do Dhaoine Óga ar siúl arís in 2025, chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar shaothair phortráidíochta chomhaimseartha le healaíontóirí Éireannacha de gach aois as Éirinn agus as thar lear. Fógraíodh gearrliostaí don dá chomórtas i mí Lúnasa 2025 agus osclófar na taispeántais sa Ghailearaí i mí na Samhna 2025.

Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Dr Caroline Campbell, Stiúrthóir Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann: “Is mór an onóir do Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann na portráidí iontacha seo a chur ar taispeáint don phobal. Buaiteoirí iontacha dár nDuais Portráide in 2022 agus in 2023 ba ea na healaíontóirí David Stephenson agus David Booth. Táimid bródúil go bhfuil a bportráidí de Ruth Negga agus Stephen Rea le feiceáil anois – aisteoirí a chuir go mór le saol cultúrtha na hÉireann sa bhaile agus thar lear – iad crochta ar bhallaí an Ghailearaí inniu.”

Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Aisteoir Ruth Negga: “Pribhléid a bhí ann cinnte a bheith mar shuiteoir fad is a bhí David i mbun oibre. Is mian liom buíochas a ghabháil le David agus le Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann. Tá an t-ádh liom go bhfuil an chuma ar an scéal gur thug sé a cháilíochtaí féin - maorgacht, cion agus an ghné sin atá riachtanach sa saothar ealaíne dar liom, mistéir - chun beochta i mo phortráid. Go raibh maith agaibh as an deis iontach seo a thabhairt dom.”

Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Ealaíontóir David Booth: “Is mór an phribhléid é go bhfuil an phortráid seo de Ruth ar taispeáint i nGailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann. Ba é an aidhm a bhí agam ón tús go mbeadh sí ag breathnú go díreach ar an mbreathnóir, go mbeadh tuiscint chumhachtach ar láidreacht agus ar neasacht á cruthú. Bhí ár modh oibre i rith an phróisis bunaithe ar chairdeas agus ar oscailteacht, modh oibre a raibh tionchar suntasach aige ar an bportráid. Tá súil agam go dtugann an phortráid seo deis do bhreathnóirí a bheith gar di, tuiscint a fháil ar a cairdiúlacht, seasmhacht agus láithreacht speisialta.”

Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Aisteoir Stephen Rea: “Is moladh iontach nach raibh súil ar bith agam leis an cinneadh a rinne Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann mo ghrianghraf, cruthaithe ag an ngrianghrafadóir iontach, David Stephenson, a chur san áireamh ina bhailiúchán buan. Is ardú croí atá ann.”

Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Ealaíontóir David Stephenson: “Bhí sé iontach am a chaitheamh i gcomhluadar Stephen. Bhuaileamar lena chéile ina theach breá faoin tuath, a thearmann. Tá seanbhalla ar a bhfuil eidhneán geimhridh lom ag fás ina ghairdín agus rith sé liom gur cúlra spéisiúil a bheadh ann. Is breá liom nuair a bhíonn gné inmheánach le tabhairt faoi deara i bportráid. Is féidir go leor a fhoghlaim ó aghaidh an duine ach is féidir le haghaidh an duine go leor a cheilt chomh maith céanna. Tá neamhréiteach spéisiúil le tabhairt faoi deara i gcás Stephen, idir a persona poiblí agus príobháideach. Sílim gurb ionann an phortráid dubh agus bán seo agus nóiméad príobháideach idir an dá persona sin.”

Ba mhaith le foireann an Ghailearaí buíochas a ghabháil leis an Roinn Cultúir, Cumarsáide agus Spóirt as a tacaíocht leanúnach.

CRÍOCH

Teagmhálaithe do na Meáin:

• Kate O’Leary, Bainisteoir - Cumarsáid, Margaíocht & Idirghníomhú Digiteach, Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann, R-phost: [email protected]

Nótaí don eagarthóir:

• Scaipfear íomhánna ó na nochtuithe ag Naoise Culhane ar an 04 Meán Fómhair.
• D'fhéadfadh ealaíontóirí agus samhlacha a bheith ar fáil le haghaidh agallaimh ar iarratas.
• Tá an Dr Caroline Campbell (Stiúrthóir, Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann) ar fáil chun agallamh a dhéanamh.

Eolas maidir leis na saothair ealaíne: 

David Booth (1986 Baile Átha Cliath)
Ruth
2025
Olaphictiúr ar chlár
80 x 60 cm

David Stephenson (1955 Baile Átha Cliath)
Stephen Rea (1946 Béal Feirste), aisteoir
2025
Grianghraf ar pháipéar cartlainne
76.2 x 54.4 cm

Eolas maidir le Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann:

Is é Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann ceann de na nithe is díol spéise do chuairteoirí is mó tóir sa tír. Is sa Ghailearaí atá bailiúchán an náisiúin de shaothar ealaíne Eorpach agus Éireannach ó thart ar an mbliain 1300 go dtí an lá atá inniu ann. Tá Leabharlann & Cartlann fhairsing le fáil sa Ghailearaí freisin. Tá saorchead isteach ag gach duine ar mian leo taitneamh a bhaint as na saothair ealaíne, a bheith ag foghlaim agus ag machnamh. Teastaíonn ticéid chun dul isteach chuig cuid de na taispeántais shealadacha. 

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