BP Portrait Award Is Back - But It's Much The Same
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The BP Portrait Award is a stalwart in the art calendar. This free exhibition brings together portrait painters from across the world to compete for the top prizes.
This year there were over 2,500 entries from across 87 countries, which have been whittled down to the 53 on display at the National Portrait Gallery.
While the painting quality of the entries is always to a high standard, the prize itself is quite staid. We've suggested how it can be improved, but this year is more of the same.
There are some exceptions, including one entry where the background is reflective, thus making the subject of the portrait into one of the crowd of gallery-goers.
But on the whole it's all very same-y and not much stands out in this year's prize.
BP Portrait Award 2017 is on at National Portrait Gallery until 24 September. Entrance is free.
Last Updated 03 July 2017