National Portrait Gallery London to Acquire More Women's Portraits

The National Portrait Gallery in London has launched a three-year research project in collaboration with Chanel to address gender imbalance in its collection. Currently, only 25% of portraits in the permanent collection depict women, and only 12% were created by female artists. The initiative aims to acquire works by or of women, focusing on overlooked female figures who contributed to British history. One figure already identified is Noor Inayat Khan, an Indian secret agent executed by Nazis in 1944. The project coincides with the museum's closure until 2023 for a £35.5 million renovation called Inspiring People, designed by Jamie Fobert Architects and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The renovation includes a complete reinterpretation of the collection from the Tudors to the present, new public spaces, and a learning center. During closure, 300 portraits will tour the UK, with venues including York Art Gallery, Holburne Museum Bath, National Museums Liverpool, Laing Art Gallery Newcastle, and Scottish National Portrait Gallery.