Events calendar

Man Ray Portraits

7 February - 27 May 2013
Wolfson Gallery

The first major museum retrospective of the influential and innovative artist’s photographic portraits.

George Catlin: American Indian Portraits

7 March - 23 June 2013
Porter Gallery
Admission Free

During the 1830s Pennsylvanian-born artist George Catlin (1796-1872) made five trips to the western United States to document the Native American peoples and their way of life. The resulting portraits have become one of the most extensive, evocative and important records of indigenous peoples ever made.

Live Music: Tamsin Waley-Cohen

A part of Late Shift
24 May 2013, 18:30
Room 20
Free

A solo recital featuring Bach, Biber and Ysaÿe by this supremely talented violinist.

Drop-In Drawing

A part of Late Shift
24 May 2013, 18:30-20:30
Rooms 30 & 31
Free

Take inspiration from the portraits and sketch in the Gallery in this session with artist Gayna Pelham.

Portrait of the Day: Ellen Terry

25 May 2013, 12:00
Room 26
Free

‘The Painter’s Actress’: portraits, performance and the public identity of Ellen Terry (1847-1928). With Anne Stutchbury.

Programme subject to change

Weekend Workshop: Experimental Portraits (Day One)

25 May 2013, 11:00-17:00
Meet in the Main Hall
Ticket: £100/£80 (two day)
Fully booked

Using a digital, large-format camera, make digital portraits re-imagining Man Ray’s experimental darkroom techniques with photographer Anthony Luvera.

Suitable for all levels, materials are provided.

Portrait of the Day: Radclyffe Hall

26 May 2013, 12:00
Room 30
Free

Radclyffe Hall was a revolutionary writer and extraordinary character who paved the way for lesbians and homosexuals through her passionate writing and liberal lifestyle. With Rebecca Bearman.

Programme subject to change

Gallery Talk: Patrick Heron

26 May 2013, 15:00-15:30
Meet in the Main Hall
Free

Art Historian Rachel Barnes recalls interviewing artist Patrick Heron.

Weekend Workshop: Experimental Portraits (Day Two)

26 May 2013, 11:00-17:00
Meet in the Main Hall
Ticket: £100/£80 (two day workshop)
Fully booked

Using a digital, large-format camera, make digital portraits re-imagining Man Ray’s experimental darkroom techniques with photographer Anthony Luvera.

Suitable for all levels, materials are provided.

Workshop: What a Relief!

27 May 2013, 11:30-13:00
Room 14
Free

Paint, cut, stick and create a relief self-portrait using different materials inspired by portraits in the Collection.

Free ticket required, available one hour before the event starts on a first come, first served basis. Sessions last approximately 90 minutes. For ages 5+ and their carers.

The Drawing Room

27 May 2013, 13:00-15:00
Check signage on day for details
Free

New monthly artist-led drop-in drawing sessions for visitors with disabilities. These sessions are open to all abilities, materials provided.

If you require BSL interpretation please education@npg.org.uk .

Workshop: What a Relief!

27 May 2013, 14:30-16:00
Room 14
Free

Paint, cut, stick and create a relief self-portrait using different materials inspired by portraits in the Collection.

Free ticket required, available one hour before the event starts on a first come, first served basis. Sessions last approximately 90 minutes. For ages 5+ and their carers.

Drop-in

27 May 2013, 13:00-16:00
Room 21
Free

Drop-in sessions suitable for ages 3+ and their carers.  No ticket required, sessions last approximately 45 minutes.

Workshop: Blood Head

28 May 2013, 11:30-13:00
Room 38
Free

Explore the stunning Mark Quinn sculpture and create your own miniature version using modelling materials

Free ticket required, available one hour before the event starts on a first come, first served basis. Sessions last approximately 90 minutes. For ages 5+ and their carers.

Drop-in

28 May 2013, 13:00-16:00
Room 21
Free

Drop-in sessions suitable for ages 3+ and their carers.  No ticket required, sessions last approximately 45 minutes.

Workshop: Blood Head

28 May 2013, 14:30-16:00
Room 38
Free

Explore the stunning Mark Quinn sculpture and create your own miniature version using modelling materials

Free ticket required, available one hour before the event starts on a first come, first served basis. Sessions last approximately 90 minutes. For ages 5+ and their carers.

Portrait of the Day: Joanna of Navarre

29 May 2013, 12:00
Medieval Stairs
Free

A talk on a chosen portrait in the Gallery's Collection. Anna Cusack.

Programme subject to change

Workshop: Boxed Up

29 May 2013, 11:30-13:00
Room 32
Free

Build, shape, construct and create during our week of activities inspired by contemporary and traditional sculpture in the Collection.

Free ticket required, available one hour before the event starts on a first come, first served basis. Sessions last approximately 90 minutes. For ages 5+ and their carers.

Drop-in

29 May 2013, 13:00-16:00
Room 21
Free

Drop-in sessions suitable for ages 3+ and their carers.  No ticket required, sessions last approximately 45 minutes.

Workshop: Boxed Up

29 May 2013, 14:30-16:00
Room 32
Free

Build, shape, construct and create during our week of activities inspired by contemporary and traditional sculpture in the Collection.

Free ticket required, available one hour before the event starts on a first come, first served basis. Sessions last approximately 90 minutes. For ages 5+ and their carers.

Workshop: Softly Softly

30 May 2013, 11:30-13:00
Room 33
Free

Construct a soft sculpture using fabrics.

Free ticket required, available one hour before the event starts on a first come, first served basis. Sessions last approximately 90 minutes. For ages 5+ and their carers.

Visualising Portraits: Julian Otto Trevelyan

30 May 2013, 14:00
Check signage on day for details
Free

Picture description for visually impaired visitors.

Workshop: Softly Softly

30 May 2013, 14:30-16:00
Room 33
Free

Construct a soft sculpture using fabrics.

Free ticket required, available one hour before the event starts on a first come, first served basis. Sessions last approximately 90 minutes. For ages 5+ and their carers.

Drop-in

30 May 2013, 13:00-16:00
Room 21
Free

Drop-in sessions suitable for ages 3+ and their carers.  No ticket required, sessions last approximately 45 minutes.

In Conversation: The Frontier Myth, Cowboys & Indians

A part of Late Shift
30 May 2013, 19:00
Ondaatje Wing Theatre
Free
Dr Karen Jones and guests explore how the popular mythology of cowboys and Indians was created.

Exhibition Tour George Catlin: American Indian Portraits

A part of Late Shift
30 May 2013, 19:30
Meet in the Main Hall
Free

Discover more about George Catlin’s American Indian portraits on a tour of the exhibition led by research students from the University of Birmingham. With BSL interpretation.

Part of George Catlin’s American Indian portraits exhibition.

Resident DJ: Edward Otchere

A part of Late Shift
30 May 2013, 18:00-20:45
Main Hall
Free

Our resident DJ Edward Otchere creates a carefully crafted themed soundscape, making the Main Hall resonate.

Workshop: Hang On!

31 May 2013, 11:30-13:00
Room 37a
Free

Weave, spin, build, mould and shape a fabric puppet inspired by the contemporary Collections.

Free ticket required, available one hour before the event starts on a first come, first served basis. Sessions last approximately 90 minutes. For ages 5+ and their carers.

Drop-in

31 May 2013, 13:00-16:00
Room 21
Free

Drop-in sessions suitable for ages 3+ and their carers.  No ticket required, sessions last approximately 45 minutes.

Workshop: Hang On!

31 May 2013, 14:30-16:00
Room 37a
Free

Weave, spin, build, mould and shape a fabric puppet inspired by the contemporary Collections.

Free ticket required, available one hour before the event starts on a first come, first served basis. Sessions last approximately 90 minutes. For ages 5+ and their carers.

Live Music: Giuliano Modarelli

A part of Late Shift
31 May 2013, 18:30
Please Check signage on the day for details
Free
An award-winning guitarist with a unique approach presents music from his album Englobed.

Workshop: Life Drawing

A part of Late Shift
31 May 2013, 18:30-20:30
Ondaatje Wing Theatre
Advance tickets are now sold out. A limited number will be available in the Gallery from 18.00 on the day.
Start your weekend with a fun and relaxing artist-led life drawing session. The class is suitable for beginners and more confident artists.  All materials are provided.

Every Friday evening there is a free drawing activity happening in the Gallery.

Drop-In Drawing

A part of Late Shift
31 May 2013, 18:30-20:30
Please check signage on the day for details
Free

Start your weekend with a fun and relaxing drawing session in the Gallery led by artist Marc Woodhead. Taking inspiration from the portraits around you, explore  technique, composition and line.

Photograph of the Month

1 May - 31 May 2013
Room 31
Free

The display of this important recent acquisition, Lee Miller’s Picnic Group including Man Ray and Roland Penrose, coincides with the exhibition Man Ray Portraits (until 27 May 2013) and the launch of a new online picture library by The Lee Miller Archives, drawn from Miller’s extensive archive.

Fred Daniels: Cinema Portraits

28 September 2012 - 20 June 2013
Bookshop Gallery
Free

This first solo display at the National Portrait Gallery celebrates the career of Fred Daniels, pioneer of British ‘Stills’ and portrait photography, and coincides with the publication of the first monograph on his work.

Henry and Catherine Reunited

24 January - 1 September 2013
Room 1
Free

A recently re-identified portrait of Catherine of Aragon, which is on long-term loan to the Gallery from Lambeth Palace, is displayed alongside a portrait of Henry VIII from the same period.

Hidden: Unseen Paintings Beneath Tudor Portraits

3 January - 9 June 2013
Room 3
Free

Treason, Plots and Murder

26 May 2013 - 16 February 2014
Room 16
Free
The seventeenth century was witness to frequent and often gruesome plots, scandals and murders.

Diplomatic Dignitaries

18 December 2012 - 14 July 2013
Room 23: case display
Free

Victorian Masquerade

22 October 2012 - 2 June 2013
Room 24 case display
Free
Explores the fashion for fancy dress in the 19th century with portraits of the royal family, aristocrats and artists in period costume.

Portraits of G.F. Watts

19 June 2012 - 9 June 2013
Room 26: case display
Free
As well as being one of the greatest portrait painters of the period, G. F. Watts’s own striking appearance attracted the attention of some of the leading portraitists among his contemporaries.

Alexander Bassano: Victorian Photographer

25 March - 10 November 2013
Room 28: case display
Free
his display commemorates the centenary of the death of Alexander Bassano (1829–1913) who established one of the most important photographic portrait studios of the Victorian era. His sitters included royalty, aristocracy, politicians, and leading names from the military, sciences and arts.

William Nicholson Woodcuts

26 March 2013 - 2 March 2014
Room 29: case display
Free
At the beginning of his career, William Nicholson experimented with graphic art, producing hand-coloured woodcuts that were widely praised for the boldness and simplicity of their design.

Cornelia Sorabji: India’s First Woman Lawyer

17 December 2012 - 11 August 2013
Room 31: case display
Free

Francis Goodman: Back in Focus

23 April - 3 November 2013
Room 31: case display
Free
Marking the centenary of the birth of this important photographer whose archive has recently been catalogued. Including portraits of Cecil Beaton, Francis Bacon and Noël Coward.

Scandal ’63: The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Profumo Affair

30 April - 15 September 2013
Room 32
Central to the political scandal of 1963, Christine Keeler is represented by Lewis Morley’s much imitated photograph and a drawing by Stephen Ward, artist and osteopath to the establishment.

Patrick Heron: Studies for a portrait of T.S. Eliot

26 January - 22 September 2013
Room 32
Free

Heron’s portrait of writer T.S. Eliot is shown alongside rarely seen studies: from life-drawings to experiments in form and colour, revealing the process of abstraction for which the artist is best known.

Supported by the Quercus Trust

Jacob Epstein: Portrait Sculptor

28 March - 24 November 2013
Room 33
Free
One of the 20th century’s leading portrait sculptors, this display explores Epstein’s achievement and practice through busts of artists, writers and politicians from the National Portrait Gallery Collection.

Susan Aldworth: The Portrait Anatomised

7 March - 1 September 2013
Room 38a
Free

Produced as part of a commission for Guy’s and St. Thomas’s Hospital in Westminster, the portraits by Susan Aldworth in this display depict three individuals with epilepsy. 

Portraits by Contemporary Photographers

29 September 2012 - 7 July 2013
Room 39a
Free

Every year the Gallery acquires around 300 photographs for the Collection, ranging from the nineteenth century to the present day. The works in room 39a reflect the broad selection of work by contemporary photographers that the Gallery has recently acquired, often through generous donation.

Humphrey Ocean: A handbook of modern life

23 November 2012 - 1 September 2013
Rooms 41 & 41a
Free
In 2006, Humphrey Ocean started making a series of portraits of visitors to his studio- a project which is ongoing.  Working swiftly in gouache on large sheets of paper in his studio, Ocean paints his sitters, including family members, friends and professional acquaintances, in simple forms and bold colours.

Diallo

6 April - 30 June 2013
New Walk Art Gallery, Leicester
The portrait is currently on long term loan to the National Portrait Gallery and will tour to three venues across the UK.

Trailblazers: Women in Science and Industry

8 March - 29 September 2013
Discovery Museum, Newcastle

A new exhibition exploring the achievements of women who have made a significant contribution to the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) industries, both historically and today.

Early Kings and Queens

17 March 2012 - 4 November 2013
Montacute House
One of the most important surviving sets of Tudor royal portraits returns to Montacute as a special display.

Ida Kar: Bohemian Photographer Portraits of Artists from Paris, London and St. Ives

27 April - 22 November 2013
Royal Cornwall Museum

In 1960 Ida Kar (1908-74) became the first photographer to have a retrospective exhibition at a major London art gallery.