THE prestigious BP Portrait Award is making a return to Aberdeen Art Gallery, the only UK venue for the 2020 exhibition.
A planned exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London moved online earlier this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Organised by the National Portrait Gallery, the BP Portrait Award is one of the most important platforms for international portrait painters.
The competition is open to everyone aged 18 and over, in recognition of the outstanding and innovative work currently being produced by artists of all ages.
For the 2020 award there were 1,981 entries from 69 countries. Forty-eight portraits will be displayed at Aberdeen Art Gallery.
This year’s first prize was awarded to a self-taught artist Jiab Prachakul, for her portrait entitled Night Talk, which depicts her close friends in a bar in Berlin
Councillor Marie Boulton, Aberdeen City Council’s culture spokesperson, said: “Prior to Aberdeen Art Gallery’s closure for redevelopment in 2015, the BP Portrait Award was a popular feature of our exhibition calendar.
“We know that visitors will enjoy this fantastic celebration of the very best in contemporary portrait painting – and we look forward to seeing which work is chosen as Aberdeen’s Visitor Favourite.”
Emeka Emembolu, BP senior vice president, said: “We were pleased to be able to support the redevelopment of Aberdeen Art Gallery and are delighted that the prestigious BP Portrait Award is returning to Aberdeen and will be presented for the first time in the BP Galleries on the stunning new top floor of the building.”
