An introduction to David Hockney

Curator Edith Devaney introduces David Hockney’s portrait exhibition, giving an insight into this remarkable series of work and Hockney’s relationship with portraiture, as well as her own experiences of sitting for the artist.

Sandy Nairne on contemporary portraiture

While many contemporary portraits demonstrate a respect for the traditions of portraiture, others are a means for innovation in both media and approach. Writer and curator Sandy Nairne, former director of the National Portrait Gallery, explores developments in contemporary portraiture, and examines how artists have experimented with the genre.

Portraits and perceptions

A portrait can be defined as an artistic representation of a person, with an intent to display their likeness, personality and even their mood. But who determines what we really see? As a collaboration between subject and artist, to what extent do they each influence our perception of the person who is being presented? Portrait artists James Lloyd and Daphne Todd, and philosopher Nigel Warburton discuss the roles of the subject, artist and viewer in how we understand a portrait.

Portraits: Tacita Dean in conversation with Tim Marlow

Tacita Dean is one of the most influential artists of her generation. Her film portraits express something that neither painting nor photography can capture. They are purely film.

In this podcast, the artist discusses her work, including her 16mm film, ‘Portraits’, with RA Artistic Director Tim Marlow.