+ BP Travel Award 2012. 55 of the most outstanding and innovative new portraits from around the world.
The BP Portrait Award showcases fifty-five of the most outstanding and innovative new portraits from around the world. From informal and personal studies of friends and family to revealing paintings of famous faces, the exhibition features a variety of styles and approaches to the contemporary painted portrait. These include the winner of the £30,000 first prize as well as the work of the BP Young Artist 2013 and the BP Travel Award 2012 winners.
Now in its thirty-fourth year at the National Portrait Gallery, and twenty-fourth year of sponsorship by BP, the Award is the most prestigious international portrait painting competition and the popular exhibition continues to be one of the highlights of the annual art calendar.
For the fourth year, the BP Portrait Award: Next Generation project gives young people aged 14-19 the opportunity to get creative through portraiture, connect with BP Portrait Award artists and go behind-the-scenes online, inspired by the exhibition. To get involved please click here
This year’s competition was judged from original paintings by:
Sandy Nairne, Director, National Portrait Gallery (Chair)
David Dawson, Painter and Photographer
Sarah Howgate, Contemporary Curator, National Portrait Gallery
Victoria Pomery, Director, Turner Contemporary
Ali Smith, Author
Des Violaris, Director, UK Arts & Culture, BP
National Portrait Gallery
St Martin’s Place - London WC2H 0HE
Opening hours Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday: 10am – 6pm (Gallery closure commences at 5.50pm) Late Opening: Thursday, Friday: 10am – 9pm (Gallery closure commences at 8.50pm)
Admission free