Women on Walls at UCC Portrait Commission
Tipperary artist Gerry Davis selected to create portrait of Edna O'Brien for UCC's Women on Walls initiative celebrating pioneering Munster women.
Accenture's Women on Walls at University College Cork is a significant contemporary fine art initiative that commissioned portraits of 11 trailblazing women from or with links to the Munster region. The collection celebrates pioneering women who have shaped Irish society through courage, conviction, and vision for a more inclusive world. Tipperary artist Gerry Davis was selected to create the portrait of renowned Irish writer Edna O'Brien as part of this prestigious project.
The portraits were officially unveiled at a ceremony in UCC's historic Aula Maxima, where they are now permanently displayed as part of the UCC Art Collection. The artists were selected following a competitive open call led by Business to Arts. The initiative received over 600 public nominations in 2024, with 11 subjects ultimately selected by a panel of UCC staff and student leaders.
The four commissioned artists include Gerry Davis, Vanessa Jones, Vera Klute, and Julianne Guinee. This project represents a significant contribution to contemporary portrait painting in Ireland and aims to make women leaders visible through lasting cultural legacy. The Women on Walls campaign began in 2016 with the Royal Irish Academy, followed by campaigns at RCSI (2019) and DCU (2020). The UCC iteration builds on the university's Silver Athena Swan accreditation and commitment to advancing equality, diversity, and inclusion.