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Room 30

Contemporary Conversations

This room celebrates the highlights of the Contemporary Collection and portrait making today, in which photography, digital and new media have expanded the possibilities of the genre. Each year, the Gallery commissions a small number of portraits, pairing artists with sitters. At the heart of each successful collaboration is mutual respect, dialogue and an inspiring connection. Over the last 40 years, around 200 commissioned portraits have entered the Collection. The portraits here present people who are making a contribution to life in the UK today. The works encourage us to think about art, society and everevolving issues of personal and national identity.

12 portraits on display in Room 30 on Floor 1 at the National Portrait Gallery

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Sam Taylor-Johnson (Sam Taylor-Wood) ('Self-portrait in Single-breasted Suit with Hare'), by Sam Taylor-Johnson (Sam Taylor-Wood) - NPG P959

Sam Taylor-Johnson (Sam Taylor-Wood) ('Self-portrait in Single-breasted Suit with Hare')

by Sam Taylor-Johnson (Sam Taylor-Wood)
chromogenic print, 2014, based on a work of 2001
On display in Room 30 on Floor 1 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG P959

David Beckham ('David'), by Sam Taylor-Johnson (Sam Taylor-Wood) - NPG 6661

David Beckham ('David')

by Sam Taylor-Johnson (Sam Taylor-Wood)
digital video displayed on plasma screen, 2004
On display in Room 30 on Floor 1 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 6661

Judi Dench, by Alessandro Raho - NPG 6671

Judi Dench

by Alessandro Raho
oil on canvas, 2004
On display in Room 30 on Floor 1 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 6671

'Self-Portrait with Charlie' (David Hockney; Charles Dare Scheips), by David Hockney - NPG 6819

'Self-Portrait with Charlie' (David Hockney; Charles Dare Scheips)

by David Hockney
oil on canvas, 2005
On display in Room 30 on Floor 1 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 6819

Chantal Joffe ('Self Portrait with Esme'), by Chantal Joffe - NPG 7013

Chantal Joffe ('Self Portrait with Esme')

by Chantal Joffe
oil on board, 2008
On display in Room 30 on Floor 1 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 7013

Amy Winehouse ('Amy-Blue'), by Marlene Dumas - NPG 6948

Amy Winehouse ('Amy-Blue')

by Marlene Dumas
oil on canvas, 2011
On display in Room 30 on Floor 1 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 6948

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth II, by Thomas Struth - NPG P1665MP

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth II

by Thomas Struth
chromogenic print, 7 April 2011; printed 2018
On display in Room 30 on Floor 1 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG P1665MP

Vivienne In Her Garden, London 2014 (Dame Vivienne Westwood), by Juergen Teller - NPG P1980

Vivienne In Her Garden, London 2014 (Dame Vivienne Westwood)

by Juergen Teller
chromogenic print, 2014
On display in Room 30 on Floor 1 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG P1980

Malala Yousafzai, by Shirin Neshat - NPG 7053

Malala Yousafzai

by Shirin Neshat
archival ink on gelatin silver print on fibre-based paper, 2018
On display in Room 30 on Floor 1 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 7053

'Sadie' (Zadie Smith), by Toyin Ojih Odutola - NPG 7105

'Sadie' (Zadie Smith)

by Toyin Ojih Odutola
pastel, charcoal, pencil and graphite on paper, 2018-2019
On display in Room 30 on Floor 1 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 7105

Raqib Shaw ('The Final Submission in Fire on Ice'), by Raqib Shaw - NPG 7156

Raqib Shaw ('The Final Submission in Fire on Ice')

by Raqib Shaw
acrylic liner and enamel on aluminium, 2021-22
On display in Room 30 on Floor 1 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 7156

Sir Nicholas Andrew Serota, by Steve McQueen - NPG 7139

Sir Nicholas Andrew Serota

by Steve McQueen
fine art giclée print, 2022
On display in Room 30 on Floor 1 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 7139