COMING HOME

This exciting project saw the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with. The country-wide initiative enabled portraits from the national Collection to travel to towns and cities across the UK, providing venues and communities with the opportunity to celebrate their local heroes.

Close-up crop of a portrait of a woman's face
COMING HOME logo


COMING HOME was made possible by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, generous contributions from The Thompson Family Charitable Trust and funds raised at the Gallery’s Portrait Gala in 2017.



See all past events

COMING HOME: Anne, Countess of Pembroke (Lady Anne Clifford)

COMING HOME: Anne, Countess of Pembroke (Lady Anne Clifford)

Past national and international programme archive
22 March - 22 June 2019

Abbot Hall, Kendal

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Isambard Kingdom Brunel

COMING HOME: Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Past national and international programme archive
18 March - 23 June 2019

Portsmouth Museum, Portsmouth

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: David Hockney

COMING HOME: David Hockney

Past national and international programme archive
26 February - 14 July 2019

Cartwright Hall, Bradford

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Dylan Thomas

COMING HOME: Dylan Thomas

Past national and international programme archive
4 May - 1 September 2019

Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Tracey Emin

COMING HOME: Tracey Emin

Past national and international programme archive
24 June - 8 September 2019

Turner Contemporary

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: King Richard III

COMING HOME: King Richard III

Past national and international programme archive
8 June - 22 September 2019

New Walk Museum & Art Gallery, Leicester

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Stormzy

COMING HOME: Stormzy

Past national and international programme archive
24 May - 28 September 2019

Museum of Croydon, London

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Sir Francis Drake

COMING HOME: Sir Francis Drake

Past national and international programme archive
27 April - 29 September 2019

Buckland Abbey – National Trust, Yelverton

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Jessica Ennis-Hill

COMING HOME: Jessica Ennis-Hill

Past national and international programme archive
23 July - 20 October 2019

Weston Park, Museums, Sheffield

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Maxine Peake

COMING HOME: Maxine Peake

Past national and international programme archive
1 July - 21 October 2019

The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Lord Byron

COMING HOME: Lord Byron

Past national and international programme archive
13 July - 3 November 2019

Newstead Abbey, Ravenshead

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Samuel Johnson

COMING HOME: Samuel Johnson

Past national and international programme archive
13 September 2019 - 3 January 2020

Lichfield Cathedral, Lichfield

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Virginia Woolf

COMING HOME: Virginia Woolf

Past national and international programme archive
13 September 2019 - 19 January 2020

Charleston, Lewes

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: William Wilberforce

COMING HOME: William Wilberforce

Past national and international programme archive
21 September 2019 - 19 January 2020

The Ferens Art Gallery, Hull

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Horatio Nelson

COMING HOME: Horatio Nelson

Past national and international programme archive
12 October 2019 - 26 January 2020

Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery, Norwich

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Ira Frederick Aldridge

COMING HOME: Ira Frederick Aldridge

Past national and international programme archive
3 October 2019 - 1 March 2020

The Holburne Museum, Bath

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Meera Syal

COMING HOME: Meera Syal

Past national and international programme archive
11 January - 5 April 2020

Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Wolverhampton

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Florence Nightingale

COMING HOME: Florence Nightingale

Past national and international programme archive
3 March - 21 May 2020

Derby Museum, Derby

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Paul Robeson

COMING HOME: Paul Robeson

Past national and international programme archive
20 October 2020 - 30 January 2021

Reading Museum, Reading

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Malala Yousafzai

COMING HOME: Malala Yousafzai

Past national and international programme archive
7 October 2020 - 7 February 2021

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Ridley Scott

COMING HOME: Ridley Scott

Past national and international programme archive
1 April 2020 - 28 February 2021

Virtual loan
Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: David Beckham

COMING HOME: David Beckham

Past national and international programme archive
5 December 2019 - 1 March 2021

Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Chris Lowe

COMING HOME: Chris Lowe

Past national and international programme archive
11 January - 7 March 2021

Virtual loan
Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Mary Seacole

COMING HOME: Mary Seacole

Past national and international programme archive
4 January - 12 March 2021

Virtual loan
Brent Museums and Archives, London

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Jem Wharton

COMING HOME: Jem Wharton

Past national and international programme archive
18 May - 4 July 2021

Museum of Liverpool, Liverpool

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Grayson Perry

COMING HOME: Grayson Perry

Past national and international programme archive
24 February 2020 - 20 September 2021

Chelmsford Museum, Chelmsford

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Richard III

COMING HOME: Richard III

Past national and international programme archive
9 July - 31 October 2021

Yorkshire Museum, York

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Andy Murray

COMING HOME: Andy Murray

Past national and international programme archive
12 August - 12 December 2021

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum
Tickets: £13/£11

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

COMING HOME: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

Past national and international programme archive
22 March - 5 April 2022

St James the Less Church, Pangbourne
Free

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

COMING HOME: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

Past national and international programme archive
7 April - 4 June 2022

Reading Museum, Reading
Free

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: L.S. Lowry

COMING HOME: L.S. Lowry

Past national and international programme archive
22 May 2021 - 1 September 2022

The Lowry, Salford
Free

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

COMING HOME: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

Past national and international programme archive
13 June - 30 September 2022

Wardlaw Museum, University of St Andrews
Free

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.

COMING HOME: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

COMING HOME: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

Past national and international programme archive
16 July - 2 October 2022

Anglesey’s Oriel Môn, Wales
Free

COMING HOME sees the Gallery sending portraits of iconic individuals to places they are closely associated with.