Sir Trevor and Thandie head show to celebrate greatest black Britons
Simon made extraordinary portraits of influential Britons Dr Phillip Prodger, head of photographs
SOME OF Britain’s most successful black musicians, actors, politicians, models and sports stars are to be celebrated by a major display at the National Portrait Gallery.
Portraits of 37 black Britons at their height of their achievements – from Naomi Campbell to Sir Trevor McDonald to Dizzee Rascal – were acquired by the gallery to be displayed run next year.
It is the gallery’s largest acquisition of portraits of AfroCaribbean sitters and features
Line Of Duty star Thandie Newton, singer Laura Mvula, ex-footballer Les Ferdinand, musician Tinie Tempah and recently appointed editor-inchief of British Vogue Edward Enniful.
Labour MP Chuka Umunna, Olympic gold-medallist Denise Lewis and comedian and actor Sir Lenny Henry are also included in the line-up.
Simon Frederick, who photographed the individuals for BBC Two documentary Black
Is The New Black, donated the entire portfolio to the gallery. The display will also portraits of Homeland actor David Harewood, former children’s laureate Malorie Blackman, Lord Bill Morris – the first black leader of a major trade union – and John Sentamu, Britain’s first black Archbishop.
The photographs join the National Portrait Gallery’s primary collection and will be the subject of a major display in November 2018.
Dr Phillip Prodger, head of photographs, said: “Photographing with sensitivity and insight, Simon Frederick has made extraordinary portraits of some of the most influential Britons of our time.
“We are proud to welcome these works.”