Es Devlin's A National Portrait

A National Portrait turns a participant's photograph into an animated likeness based on Es Devlin's charcoal-and-chalk drawings. UK adults can download the result, try several redraws, and decide whether to add their face to an evolving installation at London's National Portrait Gallery.

What is Es Devlin's A National Portrait?

The clever part is not simply getting a stylized selfie; it is deciding whether that small private image should become one frame in a much larger public portrait. Faces in the gallery sequence continually redraw themselves and give way to the next contributor, so the nation appears less like a finished group photo and more like a sketch that refuses to sit still. The project pairs that digital loop with Devlin's argument for patient, human observation, including drawing events and an online drawing class.

What you can do there

• Photograph your face for an animated charcoal-style portrait
• Redraw the generated portrait up to five times
• Download a digital edition
• Choose whether to add it to the in-gallery artwork

Why we picked it

It gives a familiar camera gesture an unusually consequential second act. A generated likeness can remain a personal download or become part of a collective artwork, making the consent choice central instead of hiding it behind the visual trick. The charcoal treatment also leaves room for rough edges rather than polishing every participant into the same glossy avatar.

How to get the most from it

Visit from the UK on a device with a camera, read the participation terms, and make a portrait. You can request up to five redraws before downloading your edition. Only opt into the gallery work if you are comfortable contributing the image; a separate drawing class offers a camera-free way to engage with the idea.

Good to know

Participation is restricted to people aged 18 or older who are in the United Kingdom. The portrait is generated with image-model technology, and Google warns that results can be unexpected or inaccurate. The live camera, download, accessibility, and data-retention behavior was not independently tested, so review the current terms before submitting a face.

Who made it, and when?

Es Devlin is the credited creator or organization. The earliest supported launch date we found is May 14, 2026.