The National Portrait Gallery in London is commissioning a portrait of Nicholas Serota, who steps down as director of the Tate at the end of May. Selecting the artist will only take place after he leaves and has a little __more time. Unlike most eminent figures who are immortalised for the gallery, Serota knows hundreds of portraitists and will have his own views on who might be appropriate. For the chosen artist, it will be a slightly intimidating prospect to have to capture the features and character of the retiring Tate director (unless it is a mega-star, such as David Hockney). Will he feel it should be a British artist for the UK’s National Portrait Gallery? And most fascinating of all, will Serota opt for a fairly conventional portrait, or go for a __more conceptual artist? Watch this space.
Who will paint Serota?
The National Portrait Gallery in London is commissioning a portrait of Nicholas Serota, who steps down as director of the Tate at the end of May. Selecting the artist will only take place after he leaves and has a little __more time. Unlike most eminent figures who are immortalised for the gallery, Serota knows hundreds of portraitists and will have his own views on who might be appropriate. For the chosen artist, it will be a slightly intimidating prospect to have to capture the features and character of the retiring Tate director (unless it is a mega-star, such as David Hockney). Will he feel it should be a British artist for the UK’s National Portrait Gallery? And most fascinating of all, will Serota opt for a fairly conventional portrait, or go for a __more conceptual artist? Watch this space.