21st Century Portraits

With over 150 illustrations from fifty artists, 21st Century Portraits explores n ew developments in the representation of the human form and face as well as the continuing appeal of commissioned portraiture. The selection of portraits features cutting - edge new work from the international art community, and reflects an increasing inter est in identity worldwide. Organised thematically, the book examines seven key strands of portraiture: Observational Portraits; Self - Portraits; Commissioned and Celebrity Portraits; Social Portraits; Geopolitics and National Identity; The Body; Re - invented Portraits. With a foreword by Andrew Graham - Dixon and an essay by Sandy Nairne (Director of the National Portrait Gallery) and Sarah Howgate (Curator of Contemporary Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery) that locates contemporary portraiture withi n a historic tradition, 21st Century Portraits examines current trends, showcasing the wide range of media used by todays artists. The book also includes an extensive list of suggested further reading.