London's National Portrait Gallery announced on Monday, July 27, the acquisition of a portrait of British singer Charli XCX, now on display in the History Makers Now space, just days after the release of her new album Music, Fashion, Film.
A photo that has become emblematic of the Brat era
The portrait, taken by British photographer and director Harley Weir in 2024, shows the artist leaning against a wall, wearing a white crop top and unbuttoned black jeans. This image is among the most iconic associated with Brat, the album released the same year that propelled Charli XCX to the status of a cultural phenomenon far exceeding the realm of music.
Funded by a donation from the Bukhman Foundation as part of the Collecting the Now initiative, this acquisition joins other recent portraits of contemporary figures that have entered the gallery's collections, such as those of singer Raye or actress Naomi Ackie.
Museum recognition for a decade of reinvention
According to Brandei Estes, the gallery's senior curator of photographs, Harley Weir developed a distinctive photographic language that blends intimacy and presence, and this striking portrait captures one of the most influential cultural figures of her generation. The History Makers Now space is specifically dedicated to contemporary figures who shape British culture and public life.
This entry into the national collections comes as Charli XCX expands her film career, with upcoming roles with directors such as Gregg Araki and Takashi Miike, before headlining the Reading and Leeds festival next month.
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