Es Devlin opens National Portrait Gallery project for 14th May 2026
Es Devlin’s A National Portrait opens at the national portrait gallery on 14th May 2026, turning visitors and online participants into part of the work. The participatory digital portrait runs until 27th October 2026 inside the Gallery’s History Makers space.
Google Arts & Culture Lab
The project was built with Google Arts & Culture Lab after three years of collaborative research, and it gives people across the UK a direct route into the artwork. They can upload a photograph through a dedicated online platform, where it is transformed into an animated digital portrait shaped by Devlin’s charcoal and chalk drawing practice.
Participants also receive a downloadable digital edition of their portrait, so the work does not stop at a gallery wall. Dr Flavia Frigeri said audiences will be able to not only observe but to become part of this portrait itself, pushing portraiture into a more participatory format than a standard display.
History Makers space
The National Portrait Gallery will place the work in its History Makers space and pair the opening with a free public drawing event led by Devlin on 14th May. That same day, an online step-by-step drawing class will be accessible nationwide, giving the project a live start beyond London.
Freya Salway said the collaboration continues a decade-long partnership with Devlin and supports artist-led experimentation with advanced technologies. The gallery also said it will keep free Drop-In Drawing sessions running through the exhibition period, with workshops scheduled for 12th June 2026, 3rd July 2026, 4th September 2026 and 2nd October 2026.
Six months of portraits
The final Drop-In Drawing session will be hosted by Devlin herself, a practical draw for anyone who wants to move from uploading a photo to making work in the room. For visitors, the sharper choice is simple: take part online, turn up for the free sessions, or do both, because A National Portrait is built to absorb more faces as it runs toward 27th October 2026.
