Can you learn to paint in a week? Our Digital Artist in Residence Anthony Comber-Badu gave it a go…
⭐️Featuring award-winning artist and tutor Samira Addo, and curator Haja Fanta.
➡️ Supported by CASS ART
📍 Studio Boardroom, Illife Yard
📽 Production supported by After Party Studios
🎼 Soundtrack by 1o (Nolan Armstrong)
Can you learn to paint in a week? Our Digital Artist in Residence Anthony Comber-Badu gave it a go…
⭐️Featuring award-winning artist and tutor Samira Addo, and curator Haja Fanta.
➡️ Supported by CASS ART
📍 Studio Boardroom, Illife Yard
📽 Production supported by After Party Studios
🎼 Soundtrack by 1o (Nolan Armstrong)
How I Learnt to Paint in a Week...
Can you learn to paint in a week? Our Digital Artist in Residence Anthony Comber-Badu gave it a go…
⭐️Featuring award-winning artist and tutor Samira Addo, and curator Haja Fanta.
➡️ Supported by CASS ART
📍 Studio Boardroom, Illife Yard
📽 Production supported by After Party Studios
🎼 Soundtrack by 1o (Nolan Armstrong)
The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize celebrates the very best in international portrait photography.
⭐ 27 October – 18 December 2022 ➡️ Book now ➡️ www.npg.org.uk/photoprize
🎥 Helen Plumb
Outkast: Locating Community in the National Portrait Gallery Archives
For his first piece as our Digital Artist in Residence, Anthony Comber-Badu (@azbadu) explores the Gallery’s archive and reflects on the idea of community and spatial equity.
➡️Supported by CASS ART
⭐Production supported by After Party Studios
From talented amateurs to skilled professionals, discover the very best in contemporary photography in this year’s Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize.
🎟️Book now: http://npg.org.uk/photoprize
⭐️Under 30s for £4 every weekend
📅27 Oct - 18 Dec
"It gives me a chance to show Sheffield what I'm capable of."
Hear from Sheffield Park Academy students as they share their experience of being involved in the Creative Connections exhibition at Sheffield Museums' Millennium Gallery.
Participants worked with artist, and past student, Conor Rogers to create a striking bus shelter installation, which sits alongside a display of portraits from the National Portrait Gallery’s and Sheffield’s Collection, celebrating the public figures connected to the city.
⭐ Creative Connections is funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund, Art Fund, and with the generous support of the Palley family.
🎥 Film by Leah Rustomjee
Gate Gourmet
To mark the end of #SouthAsianHeritageMonth we invited interdisciplinary artist Narvir Singh (Narvision) to write a spoken word piece inspired by our People of Heathrow display, now open at the University of West London.
In this piece Narvir highlights the plight and resolve of the South Asian women who made up 95% of Gate Gourmet's workforce at the time of the company's employee dispute in 2005. The featured interviews are taken from the Gallery's People Powered Heathrow project documentary '8 Short Films about Heathrow', head to our website to find out more about the women's stories and The Gate Gourmet Dispute ➡️ https://www.npg.org.uk/visit/inspiring-people-across-the-uk/people-powered/heathrow-our-local-airport/
Gluck
Today we celebrate 20th century British artist Gluck, “no prefix, suffix, or quote.”, who was born #onthisday in 1895 🖌️
In February, National Youth Theatre member Alexander created a poem inspired by this self-portrait of Gluck, who is “proof that gender has infinite variety because it’s a form of expression, and Gluck’s work is allowed to embody that.”
Although this painting is small in scale, as was much of Gluck's work, it has tremendous presence. Do you have a favourite work of the artist?
🎥 @emilyaboudetc
Commonwealth Games Birmingham
The #CommonwealthGames has showcased the brilliant city of #Birmingham. From sports to the arts, some of the UK’s brightest stars have called Brum and the wider region home, including George Eliot, Sir Lenny Henry, and Benjamin Zephaniah 🏅
⭐As the games draw to an end, let’s reflect… what’s been your highlight?
🎥 INK
Shortlist Announcement
We are delighted to announce that Haneem Christian, Clémentine Schneidermann, and Alexander Komenda have been shortlisted for the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2022. ⭐The Winner will be announced Tuesday 25 October 2022 ⭐
⭐ Tickets available soon… watch this space
▶️ Find out more: www.npg.org.uk/photoprize
Commonwealth Games 2022
The #CommonwealthGames2022 is officially open. Many of the UK's best sportspeople have called #Birmingham and the West Midlands home ➡️ From athlete Denise Lewis to figure skater John Curry ⚽🎾🏏
⭐ Who would you add to the list?
🎥 INK
Learn how to finger knit with Tom Daley
This month marks the 15 year anniversary of our Gallery's Hospitals’ Programme. We've been working on a brand-new activity book, Champions of the World, for hospitals across London, as part of our wider programme which shares our Collection with children, young people and their families, as well as activities inspired by these portraits.
This sneak peek is just one of the activities featured in the new book, taking its inspiration from Olympian Tom Daley! Daley won Gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but became just as celebrated out of the pool as in it, often spotted on the poolside knitting.
The full exercise, along with many other activities related to people in our Collection, can be downloaded from our website: https://www.npg.org.uk/learning/access/hospital-schools/
You can also meet the illustrator Dunni Mustapha, who created the brilliant illustrations from the book, in our latest blog: https://www.npg.org.uk/blog/meet-the-artist-dunni-mustapha
🎥 Ink105
Conserving the Kit-Cats
What is a ‘Kit-Cat’ sized portrait? Follow our conservation team as they treat key works by Sir Godfrey Kneller, ahead of the Gallery’s reopening next year.
According to architect and dramatist Sir John Vanbrugh the Kit-Cats were ‘The best club that ever met’. Despite their comical name and reputation for eating, drinking and socialising, they were one of the most distinguished and influential clubs of the late 17th and early 18th centuries, with a list of members that included Whig politicians to playwrights and poets.
🎥 Helen Plumb
Who were the Kit-Cats? | National Portrait Gallery
As we get ready for our reopening next year, we're excited for the re-hang of our Gallery's Collection 🎨
Following their treatment in our conservation studio, the portraits by Sir Godfrey Kneller of the Kit-Cat club are due to go back onto our Gallery walls.
The Kit-Cats were an influential club of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. In this film, Senior Curator of 17th Century Collections, Catharine MacLeod, discusses what the club were known for and how the got their name...
🎥Helen Plumb
Reflecting on 50 years of Pride with Peter Tatchell | National Portrait Gallery
"It was a joyous carnival parade, but it was also a protest."
This year marks 50 years since the UK's first Pride event. In this film, presenter Jamie Windust catches up with LGBTQ+ activist Peter Tatchell, who was one of the organisers of this first Pride event in 1972.
Peter reflects on the last 50 years of Pride, what Pride means in 2022, and also chats to Jamie about the portrait of him that features in the Gallery's Collection.
You can discover more LGBTQ+ history by visiting our Collection online: npg.org.uk/collections/search/person-list.php?grp=1342&displayNo=60
[This film contains footage of violent protest]
📽️ Emily Aboud
Cecil Beaton and The Queen: A delicate balance
Explore how photographer Cecil Beaton shaped the monarchy's image in this talk by Robin Muir, curator and author of the forthcoming The Crown in Vogue.
Robin looks back on Beaton's portraits of Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal family, and how these images impacted the public perception of the monarchy.
Reflecting on 50 years of Pride with Flo Perry | National Portrait Gallery
"Painting someone, you see a new side of them, you see which bits stand out to you as the artist."
As part of our Pride Month series, author and presenter Jamie Windust sat down in our archives with artist Flo Perry. They discuss Flo's love of painting portraits, how her artistic identity connects to her LGBTQ+ identity, and what Pride means to her.
Jamie and Flo also chat about the portrait of Flo taken by Martin Parr, which features in our Gallery's Collection. You can discover more LGBTQ+ history by heading to our website: https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/group/1342/LGBT+
📽️ Emily Aboud
Reflecting on 50 years of Pride with Travis Alabanza | National Portrait Gallery
"For me, Pride is about taking up the space."
To celebrate Pride Month, author, presenter and model Jamie Windust sat down in our archives with Travis Alabanza to discuss Travis' work as a writer and performer, and how their works insects with their LGBTQ+ identity.
Travis also shares what Pride means to them, and their connection to Simon Frederick's Black is the New Black exhibition, which was previously on at the Gallery.
You can find out more about Travis' work by pre-ordering their new book 'None of the Above', and you can discover more LGBTQ+ history in our Collection: https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/group/1342/LGBT+
📽️ Emily Aboud
Celebrating the Platinum Jubilee | National Portrait Gallery
We're celebrating the #PlatinumJubilee weekend with a new animated film that journeys through Queen Elizabeth II's 70-year reign 👑
Take a look at key moments from her record-breaking reign, from when the Queen acceded to the throne to the present day.
How are you celebrating the Jubilee weekend?
📽️ Smith&Wonder, with animation by David Storr
Marble Arch lights up in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee | National Portrait Gallery
With only a few days until the #PlatinumJubilee celebrations kick off, portraits of Queen Elizabeth II have been projected onto Marble Arch in London 👑
Our Gallery, alongside Art of London and Marble Arch London BID, with the support of English Heritage and Westminster City Council, lit up Marble Arch with six images of the Queen from our Collection.
Take a peek at how the installation looked...
Celia Paul on her favourite portrait | National Portrait Gallery
Earlier this year, we were thrilled to acquire a self-portrait by artist Celia Paul. In this clip, Paul shares with us her favourite portraits in our Collection, which are of the Brontë sisters.
Do you have a favourite work at the Gallery?
🎨The Brontë Sisters (Anne Brontë; Emily Brontë; Charlotte Brontë) by Patrick Branwell Brontë, circa 1834 © National Portrait Gallery, London
🎨Emily Brontë by Patrick Branwell Brontë, circa 1833 © National Portrait Gallery, London
The Misidentification of Katherine Parr | National Portrait Gallery
Tomorrow, 'The Tudors: Passion, Power and Politics' exhibition opens at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, and will see the Katherine Parr portrait go on display for the first time since its treatment.
We spoke to our curator Charlotte Bolland about the historical significance of this portrait, which is the earliest full-length painted portrait in our Collection. She also shares why the portrait was previously misidentified as Lady Jane Grey, and how the work was finally confirmed to be of Katherine Parr.
Find out more about the exhibition: https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/whatson/walker-art-gallery/exhibition/tudors-passion-power-and-politics
🎥 North South
The Conservation of Katherine Parr | National Portrait Gallery
Ahead of the portrait going to Walker Art Gallery for the upcoming Tudors exhibition, our conservation team have been treating the painting of Katherine Parr, who was the sixth wife of Henry VIII.
Hear from Paintings Conservator Polly Saltmarsh about the discoveries found during treatment 🎨
📽️ North South
Ealing Rises Up | Eric and Jessica Huntley
As part of our Ealing Rises Up project, which explores anti-racist activism in Ealing, artist Asia Ahmed produced this film to explore the stories of radical publishers and activists, Eric and Jessica Huntley.
The Huntley's West London-based bookshop and publishing company created a space for Black and Asian thinkers, poets, writers and creatives to come together and express themselves.
Featuring an interview with Eric Huntley, you can find out more about the impact of this bookshop in the below film, and view the complete interview on our website: https://www.npg.org.uk/visit/inspiring-people-across-the-uk/citizen-uk/citizen-uk-ealing-rises-up/
Discover more stories of activism in Ealing in our free outdoor display at Gunnersbury Park & Museum, which we're pleased to announce will now be up until 1 July 2022: https://www.npg.org.uk/visit/inspiring-people-across-the-uk/citizen-uk/citizen-uk-ealing-rises-up/outdoor-display
Thank you to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Art Fund for supporting Ealing Rises Up as part of Citizen UK, and to the Friends of the Huntley Archives at the London Metropolitan Archives for providing the archival material.
Enter the 2022 Photo Prize!
Listen to previous #PhotoPrize entrants, including Jillian Edelstein and Yolanda Y. Liou, share their experience of the competition 📸
This year's #PhotoPrize, which celebrates the very best in contemporary photography, is open for entries until 31 May.
The exhibition will take place at Cromwell Place in South Kensington, London, with first prize winning £15,000.
Submit your entry here: https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/taylor-wessing-photographic-portrait-prize-2022/exhibition/
📽️Pictures for the People
Creative Connections Coventry | NPG X Herbert Art Gallery
"It was a mixture of pride and shock."
Hear Coventry students share their experience of being involved in the Creative Connections Coventry exhibition at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum 🎨
Artist Maryam Wahid has worked with the students over a series of workshops to explore ideas around identity, and taken new portraits of these students to document the future of Coventry.
These exciting portraits join 40 works from our Gallery's Collection and 40 from the Herbert Art Gallery's Collection in an exhibition celebrating the city of Coventry and the people that call it home: https://www.npg.org.uk/beyond/exhibitions/touring/creative-connections-coventry
Creative Connections is funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund, Art Fund, and with the generous support of the Palley family.
📽️ Leah Rustomjee