It’s an honour: Painting of Sam Smith added to National Portrait Gallery
The picture, called Gloria, features Smith playing a harp and wearing angel wings.
Sam Smith has said it is “an honour” to have one of their paintings put on display in the National Portrait Gallery.
The work, entitled Gloria, is part of the singer’s own collection and shows them sitting in heavenly surroundings playing a harp, while wearing angel wings designed by JW Anderson.
The piece, created by art duo Pierre et Gilles in 2023, has never been seen by the public before and will be displayed in the London gallery’s History Makers section.
The musician added: “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.
“Working once again with Jonathan Anderson on the look was a beautiful experience. 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.”
Smith first found fame on the 2012 Disclosure song Latch and Naughty Boy’s 2013 track La La La. Their debut album In The Lonely Hour, released in 2014, made them a megastar with the LP topping the UK albums chart.
They have gone on to achieve eight UK number one singles and three UK number one albums.
Pierre Commoy and Gilles Blanchard, who created the painting, made it by first taking a photo of Smith posing, before then hand painting and embellishing the image.
The National Portrait Gallery says the image aims to mix “reality, daily life, dreams and fantasies”.
The image of Smith will join pictures of singer Harry Styles and Pride In London co-founder Peter Tatchell in the History Makers exhibition.
Clare Freestone, curator of photography at the gallery, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Sam has agreed to lend this incredible work to 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.”
A new version of Smith’s debut album will be released on Friday, August 2, to celebrate its 10th anniversary, featuring a number of bonus tracks, including a version of hit single I’m Not The Only One with Alicia Keys.
They will also perform In The Lonely Hour in full at the Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Proms, with the backing of the BBC Concert Orchestra.
It comes as Smith works to build The Pink House, a charitable foundation which will provide support for those in the LGBT+ community.
