National Portrait Gallery Shows to March 2010

Famous Scientists, George Melly, John Gibbons and Twiggy on Show

Sep 24, 2009

Exhibitions at London's National Portrait Gallery feature famous scientists, the musician George Melly, sculptor John Gibbons, and super-model/actress, Twiggy.

The National Portrait Gallery is offering a good selection of exhibitions open between September 2009 and March 2010. These include:

A tribute to the late George Melly features twelve ink drawings by his good friend, Maggi Hambling. The display also features paintings of the singer, created both during his life and after his death. Two of these, George Always I and George Always II have been loaned by the Ivy Restaurant, London. Also on show will be the portrait of Melly commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery in 1998. The painting shows him in three ‘incarnations’, as jazz singer Bessie Smith, as Honorary Fellow of John Moores University, Liverpool, and as himself.

Another display at the NPG will feature photographs by husband and wife team, Anita Corbin and John O’Grady. Their subjects are shown in the context of their achievements and include Joe Farman, Robert Edwards, Patrick Steptoe, John Maynard Smith, Michael Green, César Milstein, Sir James Whyte Black, Donald Eric Broadbent, Sir Michael Atiyah, Robert Edwards, Antony Hewish, Sir Geoffrey Wilkinson and Frederick Sanger.

Also on display will be Anne-Katrin Purkiss's black and white portraits of Sir Alec Jeffreys, Sir John Brian Pendry, Sir Tom Blundell, Lord Darzi, Sir Martin Evans, Sir Tim Hunt, Dame Louise Johnson and Frances Mary Ashcroft.

The National Portrait Gallery has recently mounted a series of displays highlighting twentieth-century portraitists who have developed new approaches to the art. The latest in the series showcases the work of artist John Gibbons, one of Britain's leading sculptors.

Gibbons' work is certainly unique. His sculptures are often linked imaginatively with family members and friends. For example Portrait of Sharon (1981-4) is based on the artist's daughter. Instead of showing us Sharon's physical features Gibbons creates a cage-like structure representing the head which acts as a 'container' for the individual's experience, memories, and character.

In 2009 the iconic super-model Twiggy celebrated her sixtieth birthday. To mark the event the NPG is hosting an exhibition of photographs exploring her work and life. The show features photographs by Cecil Beaton, Norman Parkinson and Bryan Adams, Barry Lategan, Richard Avedon, Melvin Sokolsky, Ronald Traeger, and Bert Stern.

Further details of all these exhibitions, related events and publications, can be obtained from the National Portrait Gallery.

The copyright of the article National Portrait Gallery Shows to March 2010 in Special Art Gallery Exhibits is owned by Frances Spiegel. Permission to republish National Portrait Gallery Shows to March 2010 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.