With over 150 illustrations from fifty artists, 21st Century Portraits explores new developments in the representation of the human form and face as well as the continuing appeal of commissioned portraiture.

The selection of portraits features cutting-edge new work from the international art community, and reflects an increasing interest in identity worldwide. Organised thematically, the book examines seven key strands of portraiture: Observational Portraits; Self-Portraits; Commissioned and Celebrity Portraits; Social Portraits; Geopolitics and National Identity; The Body; Re-invented Portraits.

With a foreword by Andrew Graham-Dixon and an essay by Sandy Nairne (Director of the National Portrait Gallery) and Sarah Howgate (Curator of Contemporary Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery) that locates contemporary portraiture within a historic tradition, 21st Century Portraits examines current trends, showcasing the wide range of media used by today’s artists. The book also includes an extensive list of suggested further reading.