The Latest Breaking News from the National Portrait Gallery

‘We can all coexist’: artist Es Devlin uses selfies to unite UK in portrait of a nation

A National Portrait for the National Portrait Gallery aims to bring people together in increasingly atomised country

The Guardian - UK · May 14

‘It was life-changing’: the celebrated art historian who spent 46 years sitting for Frank Auerbach

Catherine Lampert is a historian, curator and model who spent much of her time sitting for her famous friends. She tells us what the likes of Auerbach, Lucian Freud and Euan Uglow meant to her

The Guardian - UK · Apr 14

‘The original triple threat’: two exhibitions celebrate Marilyn Monroe as creative pioneer

BFI and National Portrait Gallery to mark centenary of the film star’s birth with ‘the summer of Marilyn’

The Guardian - UK · Apr 6

Oscar contenders and women of substance – what to watch, read and see this week

I just finished watching The Studio, Seth Rogen’s hilarious Apple TV satire of life inside an old school Hollywood production company. One of the standout episodes was set in the audience at the Golden Globes. It perfectly captures the peculiar theatre of awards shows: stars smiling and clapping furiously while…

The Conversation · Mar 13

Catherine Opie: To Be Seen at The National Portrait Gallery – a reminder of why we go to exhibitions in the first place

American photographer Catherine Opie’s new show at the National Portrait Gallery begins – or ends, depending on which order you explore it in – with her “interventions”. These photographic portraits are installed between the gallery’s paintings of Victorian leaders, captains, artists and politicians. They sit alongside them as though somewhat…

The Conversation · Mar 11

Catherine Opie: To Be Seen review – So fresh it’s hard to believe some of this work is 30 years old

4/5 In our increasingly divided world, the American photographers portraits of subcultures, from surfers to LA’s ‘leather dyke’ scene, exude a vital warmth and emotional generosity

The Independent UK · Mar 4

Portrait of Elton John and family goes on display at National Portrait Gallery

Taken by photographer Catherine Opie, the portrait captures Sir Elton, his husband, David Furnish and their children Zachary and Elijah in their home.

Evening Standard · Mar 3

Lucian Freud: Drawing into Painting review – no, I don’t want to come up and see these etchings

Freud was a master painter, but his drawings ranged from ordinary to awful. Guess which aspect of his work this show focuses on?

The Guardian - UK · Feb 11

Smithsonian swaps Trump portrait and removes mention of impeachments

National Portrait Gallery removes text on new portrait of Trump standing in Oval Office with a scowl and fists on desk

The Guardian - US · Jan 11

Smithsonian removes reference to Trump’s impeachments after administration complained, report says

The White House shared the new portrait on social media earlier this week

The Independent UK · Jan 11