Liz Hunt: A Galway Artist’s Profile

For Elizabeth Hunt, persistence is the essential element of the creative endeavours she so adamantly pours her heart into. As a visual artist, Liz has a keen ability to reshape the ordinary -and sometimes banal moments- we encounter, into fantastical, feminine dreamscapes that penetrate the psyche. Working tirelessly across multiple mediums to create enchanting and eye-catching artwork, we’ve chosen Liz to receive the This is Galway Award as a part of Outset Gallery’s 2024 OXO Exhibition.

Advertisement

Liz entered her photo ‘Untitled' [pictured below] into Outset’s largest gallery exhibition, OXO 2024, on a whim. “I have never entered anything into an exhibition before, I think maybe because I’ve found it difficult to consider myself an artist. I felt like that was a space reserved for other people… So I felt I might as well go for it and just see what happens!” Not only did Liz’s photo garner incredible reception upon acceptance into the show, but on opening night, the piece was almost immediately purchased.

Set on the Cliffs of Moher in a sweep of motion and soft, cool colours, ‘Untitled’ is a breathtaking and striking image. Liz’s friend James overtakes the foreground with an iridescent fabric partially wrapped around his face, partially swept up by the wind above. His eyes meet ours in a grounding and still sense of serene recognition. As the fabric flies wildly around him, the moment feels impenetrable, as if it’s happening still somewhere on the wind beaten west coast of Ireland.

Capturing the stillness of a moment in flux, it is the beauty and calm of the subject that lingers. Liz shares that having this piece included in the exhibition “felt very validating.”

“I feel like I struggle to identify myself as an artist. So to see my work in a gallery, I almost felt compelled to call myself an artist. It also made me feel very seen and recognised in my community as well.”

Encompassed in Liz’s artistic undertakings, she is also the Editor-in-Chief of the beloved magazine and platform, ‘Ethereal’. The magazine is run on a volunteer basis, bringing neurodivergent, queer, and female creatives to the forefront. “It’s so nice because no one is driven by any other factors except passion for it… Everyone is doing it for the love of it, which is really special, and it really warms my heart!”

The magazine has recently released its third issue, with a focus on the five elements; earth, wind, fire, water, and the fifth element, aether. Blending together poetry, essays, photography and design from emerging artists, Ethereal is on the forefront of opportunities for young creatives in Ireland.

As she continues to nurture her artistic talents, Liz is “excited to explore who I am as an artist. I feel like there’s so much power in collaborating creatively. I’m excited to continue to evolve as an artist and hone in on my voice.”

To see more work from Liz, you can visit her Instagram at @elizzabeth.hunt and Ethereal at @ethereallmag.

Photos of Liz by Alison Barry