Last night I attended a really fun London blogger meet up at the National Portrait Gallery in the West End. I love visiting museums and galleries, I’ve worked in museums since University and always spent my weekends (pre-children) catching up on the latest exhibitions. I’ve been fortunate to see some great exhibitions lately, including The Vikings at the British Museum, Dennis Hopper at the Royal Academy and British Folk Art at Tate Britain. We met up at the NPG to look round the BP Portrait Award 2014.
BP Portrait Award at the NPG
The BP Portrait Award showcases fifty-five of the most outstanding and innovative new portraits from around the world. From informal and personal studies of friends and family to revealing images of famous faces, the exhibition features a variety of styles and approaches to the contemporary painted portrait. The works on display, selected from a record-breaking 2,377 entries, include the winner of the £30,000 first prize as well as the work of the BP Young Artist 2014 and the BP Travel Award 2013 winners. The images were unusual, beautiful and inspiring and it was hard to believe that some of them weren’t photographs.
BP Portrait Award and families
You might think that galleries are only for the adults but you couldn’t be more wrong! This summer families can explore this year’s exhibition with the free Family Trail illustrated by Jenni Desmond. The Trail includes a range of activities inspired by the portraits on display.
Monday 28th July – Friday 8th August, 11.30-16.00
Family Art Workshop – 2 weeks of drop-in and ticketed activities inspired by the exhibition
Monday 4th August, 11.30 and 14.30
Join Jenni Desmond for a workshop on characterisation.
The BP Portrait Award is on at the National Portrait Gallery until the 21st September. Admission is free. You can find out more about their fun activities for families on their website.
Such a great place to have a blog meet.
I visited the portrait gallery while at school and it was such a great experience. The art workshop sounds like great fun!
When I lived in London I loved the galleries too. I don’t get so much access to this kind of thing now I’m in the country but we have visited the National Space Centre in Leicester and Kenilworth Castle this year with the children. It’s good to get back into more cultural pursuits as the children get older.
I have never been been to a gallery but this sounds like fun x
That looks great, I’ve been to that exhibition many years ago but I think I’ve only managed London 3 times since having kids, think all of those were blog related outings too!
I love museums but have never been to an art gallery. It sounds like a great exhibition, Id love to see it.
We used to visit galleries a lot when my girls were younger.This sounds a fun place to visit.
Oooh, I do like the sound of the Vikings one, and a family trail sounds good too!
Ooh, I bet that was an interesting event! I didn’t know anything about it >_<
I love art galleries. When we were still in London, we would make a nice day out of it most weekends.
I love museums but never been to a gallery – something I really should so, especially only living a few minutes away from Birmingham art museum!
love visiting galleries – this exhibition sounds great
I have never been to a gallery and am not sure my kids are old enough to enjoy it yet
This exhibition sounds great, thanks for sharing