LONDON.- Today, the National Portrait Gallery opens the call for entries for the Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award 2025, supported by headline sponsor, Herbert Smith Freehills. Representing the very best in contemporary portraiture, entries are open from 22 October 2024 to 14 January 2025, to all artists aged 18 and over.

The Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award is one of the most important platforms for portrait painters. The highly successful competition aims to encourage artists over the age of eighteen to focus upon, and develop, the theme of portraiture in their work. Since its inception, the competition has attracted over 40,000 entries from more than 100 countries and the exhibition has been seen by over 6 million people. It has a first prize of £35,000, making it one of the largest for any global arts competition. The second prize winner receives £12,000 and a third prize of £10,000 is also awarded. The Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award will also include a Young Artist Award, which will see a prize of £9,000 awarded to a selected entrant, aged between 18 and 30, profiling their talent and supporting career development.

All artists chosen to exhibit in 2024 and 2025’s Portrait Award exhibitions will be considered for the inaugural Herbert Smith Freehills Artist Commission, which has a value of £14,000. The prizes will be announced at the award ceremony on 8 July 2025. Artists can submit their painted portraits to the Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award via the Gallery’s Competition portal at competitions.npg.org.uk. Full competition rules and guidance for digital submission can be found online. The Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award exhibition will be displayed at the National Portrait Gallery from 10 July until 12 October 2025.

“It was a pleasure to welcome this annual competition back to the Gallery this year. The Portrait Award always attracts an exciting and talented pool of artists from all over the world, and I look forward to seeing what 2025 has in store.” --Michael Elliott, Interim Director, National Portrait Gallery

“Art has always been valued for its capacity to unite people and offer insights from varied vantage points. The benefit this brings is appreciating the world around us through the lens of someone else's eyes. This philosophy aligns with our own core values, and we are thrilled to strengthen our long-standing partnership with the National Portrait Gallery through our sponsorship of the Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award.” --- Justin D'Agostino MH, Chief Executive Officer, Herbert Smith Freehills