LONDON — Sam Smith’s portrait, featuring angel wings designed by Jonathan Anderson, is set to be hung alongside those of Britain’s royal family, former Prime Minister Tony Blair and Amy Winehouse at the National Portrait Gallery.
The singer-songwriter’s portrait by French artists Pierre Commoy and Gilles Blanchard, otherwise known as Pierre et Gilles, is titled “Gloria (2023)” and shows Smith wearing a costume imagined by Anderson and the stylist Ben Reardon.
Sam Smith wearing Harri at the 2023 Brit Awards.
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The portrait was staged in Smith’s studio, with the set and props produced by Pierre et Gilles. In the hand-painted portrait, the artist is sitting on a white plinth surrounded by two Greek columns. Smith is wearing a white toga with angel wings, a gold, saint-like wreath crown, and is holding a harp with gold trimmings.
“I have admired the beautiful work of Pierre et Gilles for years. Their incredible portraits of icons like Jean Paul Gaultier and Marc Almond are truly iconic and to sit for them was a dream come true. Working once again with Jonathan Anderson on the look was a beautiful experience,” said Smith.
Sam Smith walking in the Vivienne Westwood fall 2024 show.
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“I was so happy when the National Portrait Gallery asked me if they could [borrow] the piece. It’s very important to me to support the arts. Being in their new History Makers section is an honor,” Smith added.
The History Makers section of the gallery includes portraits of the activist and co-founder of Pride in London, Peter Tatchell, by Sarah Jane Moon, and Harry Styles’ U.S. Vogue portrait shot by Tyler Mitchell for the magazine’s December 2020 cover.
Smith’s runway debut took place in March during Paris Fashion Week at the Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood fall 2024 show. The singer-songwriter wore two dramatic looks from the Renaissance-inspired collection.