Known for his famous subjects, ranging from politicians and royalty to Hollywood celebrities, portrait artist Jonathan Yeo is exploring different ways of looking at the same person in his latest work: a series of paintings of model and actress Cara Delevingne.
The self-taught artist will present the portraits, which in an age of selfies look at where the genre is headed, as part of a retrospective of his work in a new exhibition opening in Denmark. In one of the paintings, Delevingne, who has carved out a successful career as the face of some of fashions biggest names, is seen holding a mirror up to her face. In another, the 23-year old, whose own Instagram pictures have garnered a strong following, is wearing goggles.
Yeo, who worked with Delevingne for more than a year on the project, also said he wanted to explore the impact social media is having on portraiture. Yeo, son of British politician Tim Yeo, taught himself to paint while recovering from Hodgkins Lymphoma, which he developed at university. In his 25-year career, he has painted many famous faces including actors Kevin Spacey, Nicole Kidman and Sienna Miller, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, artist Damien Hirst, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai.
Some of those past works will also go on display at the Museum of National History at Denmarks Frederiksborg Castle, Yeos biggest exhibition. Yeo, who said he would have liked to have done a portrait of late singer David Bowie, listed Cubas revolutionary leader Fidel Castro as someone else he would like to paint. Jonathan Yeo Portraits will run at Denmarks Museum of National History from 20 March until 30 June.
