Ian Cumberland
Ian Cumberland is an Irish visual artist. He was born in Banbridge, Co. Down, 1983. His work focuses on portraits with his paintings typically using oils as the primary media. He studied fine art at the University of Ulster. He has won several prizes, the most significant of which was the Davy Portrait Award in 2010.
In 2019 and 2020 Cumberland deals in his work with increased commercialization, technological development and its effects on the individual. In doing so, he creates scenes that seem like a private snapshot and transport the viewer into a voyeuristic experience. He develops these by integrating his paintings into an installation consisting of audio and video works, neon light, sculptures and other plastic materials. Through this kind of deconstruction of his created sceneries he achieves a visual construction that alienates the human being within his culture, the influence of the mass media and data surveillance.
In 2011 he won third place overall in the BP Portrait Award from a field of 2400 entries.
Prizes
- BP Portrait Award, 3rd place, 2011
- KPMG Emerging Artist Award, Royal Ulster Academy, 2010
- Davy Portrait Award, 2010
- KPMG Emerging Artist Award, Royal Ulster Academy, 2009
- Selectors Choice Award, Art Society of Ulster, 2006
- John and Rachael Turner Award, University of Ulster, 2006