Royal Society of Portrait Painters | Annual Exhibition 2023

Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition 2023

Regarded as one of the world’s greatest forums for portraiture, the Royal Society of Portrait Painters annual exhibition showcases some of the best painted and drawn portraits selected from both national and international submissions. The work exhibited is diverse, bringing together high-profile celebrity and society commissions, alongside exciting portraits of others we have yet to meet.

The exhibition aims to promote artistic practice and excellence in the field, offering several prestigious prizes and an excellent opportunity for commissions. Highlights include a special display on the theme of 'Clothing’, and several works on loan from the Society’s permanent collection of People’s Portraits at Girton College, Cambridge. 

"The Society’s Annual Open Exhibition is probably the largest and most significant celebration of contemporary portrait painting in Europe. The show is always selected by a jury of practising portrait painters, no critics, no journalists, no celebrities – just painters. The current annual prize fund is more than £40,000, including The William Lock Portrait Prize (£20,000) and The Ondaatje Prize for Portraiture (£10,000)." - Anthony Connolly, President

Discover the prize-winning works

What to Expect:

• An opportunity to enjoy one of the world’s most extensive contemporary portrait exhibitions forming a showcase of some 200 works
• The chance to commission a work from an established portrait painter
• A team of dedicated professionals to help and advise your purchase

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About the Royal Society of Portrait Painters

The Royal Society of Portrait Painters aims to encourage the appreciation, study and practice of the art of portraiture. The Society contains a broad collection of stylistic and intellectual approaches that continue to make a significant contribution to the ongoing tradition of portraiture today.

The Society looks to uphold the values and practices of its long and distinguished history, but at the same time seeks to explore and develop new artistic models and perspectives in this endlessly fascinating and relevant discipline.