21st Century Portraits

In this striking book, author Charlotte Mullins explores contemporary portraiture from the past ten years. Her selection features cutting-edge new work from the international art community – and reflects an increasing interest in identity worldwide. Thematically organized, the book examines seven key strands of portraiture: Self-Portrait, The Body, Invented Portraiture, Anonymous Portraiture, Celebrity, Geopolitics and Identity, and The Commissioned Portrait.

With a forward by Sandy Nairne, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, London, to locate contemporary portraiture with a historic tradition, 21st Century Portraits examines current trends, showcasing the wide range of media today’s artists are using. Featured artists include Sophie Calle, Maria Lassnig, Thomas Ruff, David Hancock, Bill Pawlak, Glenn Brown, Karen Kilimnik, Christian Boltanski, Gillian Wearing, Gideon Rubin, and many more.

Including an extensive bibliography, this book is an essential reference work in the field of twenty-first century portraiture, and will open up many images to academic, curatiroal and general audiences for the first time, including museum and gallery visitors and general art book buyers in the trade.

AUTHOR:
Charlotte Mullins is a writer and broadcaster. A former editor of Art Review and V&A Magazine, she has published several books, including artist monographs and a book on contemporary figuration. She is a regular contributor to the BBC, including the World Service.

SELLING POINTS:
-Over 100 superb full-colour, cutting-edge portraits from around the world
-Seven easily navigable chapters, encompassing new developments in portraiture and previously unpublished portraits by some of the world’s leading artists
-Includes portraits from both hemispheres, and features exclusive interviews with several renowned contemporary artists
-Analysis of works set against the contemporary and historical collections of the National Portrait Gallery – the largest and most comprehensive gallery of its type in the world.

ILLUSTRATIONS
100 illustrations