BP Portrait Award exhibition makes exclusive UK return to Aberdeen Art Gallery

11/10/2020
08/10/20 Madeline Ward- Lead Curator & Councillor Marie Boulton-Aberdeen City Council culture spokespersonAn unmissable highlight in the annual art calendar, this year Aberdeen Art Gallery is the only UK venue to host the most world’s most prestigious portrait painting competition. The BP Portrait Award makes a welcome return to Aberdeen, where it will be presented for the first time in the BP Galleries on the stunning new top floor of the redeveloped Art Gallery.With a first prize of £35,000, and a total prize fund of £74,000, the Award is aimed at encouraging artists to focus upon and develop portraiture in their work. Exclusive first view for media in advance of the public opening on 10 October. Interview opportunities with Aberdeen City Council culture spokesperson Cllr Marie Boulton and Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums’ Lead Curator, Madeline Ward.

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.

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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.”

 

 

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