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University of East London graduate selected for World's most prestigious portrait award

Thursday 19 August 2010

Benjamin Ogbebor's self portrait

A University of East London graduate, Benjamin Ogbebor, has been selected for the BP Portrait award; widely regarded within the art community as the most prestigious portrait award in the World.

With a first prize of £25,000, the award attracts a huge variety of submissions. This year 2,177 artists from around the world submitted works for inclusion, of these just 58 were chosen. The chosen works will make up the BP Portrait Award 2010 exhibition which runs at the National Portrait Gallery, London, until 19 September, after which it will tour to the Usher Gallery in Lincoln and Aberdeen Art Gallery.

Benjamin’s selected work is a self-portrait using traditional oil on canvas, based on reference photographs that he wanted to translate into a more traditional medium. He says he was inspired to create the work after studying the work of Rembrandt.

Benjamin says of his selection: “The inclusion of my artwork in 2010 BP National Portrait Award Exhibition is a huge honour. Where else but in the National Portrait Gallery should one have their self-portrait or a portrait of someone that means a lot to them be displayed".

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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