Artist-led Talk: Jann Haworth & Liberty Blake at National Portrait Gallery

Join the artist-led discourse by Jann Haworth and Liberty Blake as they reveal their monumental mural, Work in Progress, at NPG.

You are cordially invited to an artist-led discourse featuring Jann Haworth and Liberty Blake, as they unveil their monumental mural, Work in Progress (2021-22), at the recently refurbished National Portrait Gallery which opens on June 22nd.

We are thrilled that the National Portrait Gallery has commissioned and acquired this significant mural making it the museum's biggest acquisition in size to date, and a proud addition to its permanent collection.

This remarkable mural, an integral part of the Reframing Narratives: Women in Portraiture project, in collaboration with the CHANEL Culture Fund, aims to amplify the representation of women in the Gallery's esteemed collection. We are immensely proud that the National Portrait Gallery has commissioned and acquired this significant artwork for its permanent collection.

Comprised of seven panels, this newly commissioned masterpiece showcases 130 extraordinary women who have profoundly influenced British history and culture. The creation of this mural involved an inspiring collaboration between Haworth & Blake, various colleges, and community groups across the UK. Through a series of workshops guided by the artists themselves, participants skillfully produced stencilled portraits using acrylic paints and paper, drawing inspiration from existing depictions of their chosen subjects. These individual portraits were meticulously collaged to form a captivating single image.

Join us for this momentous occasion as Jann Haworth and Liberty Blake share their artistic journey, unveiling the mural—a testament to the power and impact of women throughout history and an extraordinary addition to the National Portrait Gallery's rich collection.

Dr. Flavia Frigeri, CHANEL Curator for the Collection at the National Portrait Gallery, says: “Trailblazing women of the past are role models for the future, so we are thrilled to have commissioned Jann Haworth and Liberty Blake to create this important work for the Collection. Building on the achievements of Reframing Narratives: Women in Portraiture, Work in Progress brings women into new spaces of the Gallery who, prior to this commission, haven’t been represented before.” When the Gallery reopens, 48% of the portraits on display in its post-1900 galleries will be women, advancing the positive impact that gender equality brings to the world.