Aleah Chapin'snude portrait of a family friend has been named the winner of this year's BPPortrait Award. The 26-year-old American painter has won theprestigious first prize of £25,000 and a commission worth £4,000.
The portrait, called Auntie, will go on display atthe National Portrait Gallery this Thursday, 21 June.
It will be joined by 54 other entries, includingSpanish artist Ignacio Estudillo's portrait of his paternal grandfather, whichcame second.
This year's four finalists, whose work can be seen inthis gallery,were selected from 2,187 entries, received from 74 different countries.
29-year-old Jamie Routley - who is from Newport,Wales but lives in London - was the winner of this year's BP Young ArtistAward.
He submitted a triptych of portraits of Tony Lewis,who has a newspaper stand at Baron's Court Tube Station and works in a wine shop.
London-based artist Alan Coulson, whose workpreviously featured in the 2010 and 2011 exhibitions, was awarded third prizefor his painting of friend and fellow artist Richie Culver.
Director of the National Portrait Gallery, SandyNairne, said: "Aleah Chapin's portrait is ambitious and beautifullypainted, with superbly controlled colour and tone.
"She is a very deserving winner of the 2012 BPAward, which once again demonstrates the vitality of contemporary portraitpainting around the world."
Brooklyn-based Chapin has just completed a Master ofFine Arts (MFA) in painting at the New York Academy of Art, and has won severalawards including the Posey Foundation Scholarship.
Her painting is part of a series of nude portraits ofwomen Aleah has known all of her life, named The Aunties Project.
"The fact that she has known me since birth isextremely important," said Chapin. "Her body is a map of her journeythrough life. In her, I see the personification of strength through anunguarded and accepting presence."
The exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery runsuntil 23 September as part of the London 2012 Festival.
Source: BBC
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