The National Portrait Gallery in London has announced the display of ‘Gloria' (2023), a portrait depicting the British singer and songwriter Sam Smith.
The artwork, depicting Smith as a scantily clad angel with wings and a harp, has never been publicly displayed, and was created by the French duo Pierre Commoy and Gilles Blanchard, also known as Pierre et Gilles.
You can expect some reactionary takes from conservative pundits in the UK, who will doubtlessly clutch their pearls at the fact that the portrait of the five-time Grammy Award winner, known for his often explicit shows featuring sexualised costumes and dance routines, will hang alongside the King and the Princess of Wales.
It wouldn't be the first time that Pierre et Gilles have attracted controversy.
The duo has captured some iconic cultural figures over the years, including Andy Warhol, Tilda Swinton and Jean-Paul Gaultier, but notably faced outcry in Austria in 2012 when their work entitled ‘Vive la France' was displayed on large street posters to advertise the Nackte Männer (Naked Men) exhibition at the Leopold Museum in Vienna. ‘Vive la France' depicted three naked French footballers of different ethnicities with their genitals fully exposed.
Their portrait of Sam Smith, which combines painting and photography, will hang as part of the display ‘History Makers', which celebrates the most influential figures on contemporary culture.
Sam Smith said it was a “dream come true” to sit for the artists.
“I have admired the beautiful work of Pierre et Gilles for years; their incredible portraits of icons like Jean Paul Gaultier and Marc Almond are truly iconic and to sit for them was a dream come true.”
He added: “I was so happy when the National Portrait Gallery asked me if they could loan the piece. “It's very important to me to support the arts. Being in their new History Makers section is an honour.”
‘Gloria' will be on display alongside new acquisitions to the National Portrait Gallery's Collection, including portraits of Harry Styles, campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Pride In London co-founder Peter Tatchell. Smith also the Founder of the LGBTQIA+ charity, The Pink House Foundation.
“I'm absolutely delighted that Sam has agreed to lend this incredible work to the National Portrait Gallery,” stated Clare Freestone, the curator of Photography at the National Portrait Gallery.
“An amazing moment for Sam's fans to connect on a deeper level with the portrait, its display presents a unique opportunity for visitors to see a much-loved artwork, borrowed from the singer's own collection and on show for the first time in a public art gallery.”
