He was 26-year-old artist Alea Chapin (Aleah Chapin) with his portrait of a nude aunt. Among the nominees for the main British portraiture prize in this year were Jamie Rautli, Ignacio and Alan Coulson Estudillo

ALEANA Chapin Aunt
Oil on canvas. 147 x 96,5
Source: artdaily.com

winner of BP Portrait Award (the annual competition of portraits held by London's National Portrait Gallery of British Petroleum for cash since 1989) was a 26-year-old artist Alea Chapin (Aleah Chapin) with his portrait of a nude aunt. The grand prize BP Portrait Award is 25 thousand pounds. This year, it claimed 2,187 artists from 74 countries.

resident of Brooklyn Alea Chapin recently has finished in the New York Academy of Art. Already became the winner of several awards and participated in group exhibitions in the U.S. and Europe. For the artist to paint his friends and relatives in the nude - a usual thing. Chapin captured in the portrait of her aunt, remembers that from the cradle. "Her body is for me - as a travel card in her life," - says the artist.

Chapin also been nominated for the award Jamie Rautli (for a triple portrait of the newspaper vendor, Tony Lewis), Ignacio Estudillo (a portrait of his grandfather Augusto) and Alan Coulson (for a portrait of his friend - an artist Richie Culver) . All three authors are not left without gifts. Ignacio Estudillo got second prize in the 8000 pounds, and the third prize of £ 6000 was awarded to Alan Coulson and, finally, the prize for young artists from 18 to 30 years (5000 pounds) went to Jamie Rautli.

Today at the National Portrait Gallery opens an exhibition of 55 best works submitted to the contest this year - including a portrait of the winner Alei Chapin.

Prepared by Mary Onuchina, AI

Sources : artdaily.com , artinvestment.ru