Recent Acquisitions: Photographs of the 2000s

Lily Cole
by Mariano Vivanco, 2001
© Mariano Vivanco
NPG x132717

In the last ten years the National Portrait Gallery has acquired over 1,000 photographs of contemporary subjects, taken between 2000 and 2009. This display of previously unseen work reflects a cross-section of various types of portrait photography.

The images shown here comprise a selection of the personalities who have contributed to British life, culture and history in this era and includes figures from the armed forces, the arts, religion, sports and industry. Interesting links can be drawn between some of the subjects, such as Professors Sir David Cannadine and Linda Colley, two distinguished Cambridge-educated academics, and Lily Cole a model and emerging actress, currently studying history of art at the university. The arts are particularly well represented with an unusually large group portrait of twenty-seven artists photographed at Tate Modern by Julian Germain, contrasted with Jonathan Root’s intimate portraits of artists in places of personal significance.

The Gallery is committed to constantly updating its Collection and reflecting achievement through acquiring and displaying photographs and works in all media.

Sir David Cannadine and Linda Colley
by Erin Kornfeld, April 2009
© Erin Kornfeld / National Portrait Gallery, London NPG x133077