Russell Tovey opens sky of iconic portraits over the West End
A new public art installation of iconic portraits from the National Portrait Gallery was unveiled above the West End yesterday.
Actor and art enthusiast Russell Tovey revealed the installation marking the launch of Art of London’s Summer Season 2023: The Art of Entertainment, which will show some of the National Portrait Gallery’s most iconic portraits installed on 52 giant colourful cubes to line the skies of Leicester Square.
Heart of London Business Alliance’s initiative, Art of London, developed the installation Art Reframed in partnership with the newly reopened National Portrait Gallery.
Following the gallery’s reopening last month, the installation creates a direct link from the West End to the National Portrait Gallery, leading visitors to the Gallery’s new entrance, Ross Place.
Ros Lawler, chief operating officer at National Portrait Gallery, said: “Following three years of closure, we are delighted to have opened the doors of our new National Portrait Gallery in time to celebrate a fantastic summer in the West End, with works from our Collection now ‘spilling out’ into the surrounding streets for all to enjoy as part of Art of London Summer Season.”
Art Reframed is one of the West End’s biggest ever public art initiatives running from July into October, with installations now hanging over Coventry Street and Irving Street to be decorated next week.
The Summer Season will feature several headline public arts commissions, special projects, participatory consumer events and fringe activity in partnership with arts and culture institutions across the West End, Piccadilly and St James.
Mark Williams, director of Art of London, said: “Following the success of last year’s Art of London Summer Season, we’re thrilled to be back for 2023 with a new campaign in the West End celebrating individuals past and present who have made a significant contribution to art and culture.
“In a public art trail around London’s entertainment district, West End visitors will find the streets of the West End transformed with tributes to legendary faces across film, literature and music.”
Pictured top: Russell Tovey unveils Art Reframed yesterday (Picture: Art of London)