The National Portrait Gallery has acquired a portrait of Charli XCX, taken by photographer Harley Weir in 2023, as part of its Collecting the Now initiative funded by a £1 million gift from the Bukhman Foundation. The image, depicting the singer leaning back against a wall wearing a white crop top and black jeans, is now displayed in the History Makers space.
The National Portrait Gallery has added a portrait of Charli XCX to its collection, marking the singer’s emergence as a cultural icon. The photograph, captured by photographer Harley Weir in 2023, shows the artist leaning against a wall in a white crop top and black jeans, a defining image from her 2024 “Brat” era. The gallery announced the acquisition on July 27, 2026, as part of its Collecting the Now initiative, which uses a £1 million gift from the Bukhman Foundation to fund contemporary portrait acquisitions.
A Cultural Figure Captured in Frame
Brandei Estes, the Faroutmagazine Gallery’s senior curator of photographs, emphasized the significance of the acquisition, calling Charli XCX one of the defining cultural figures of her generation.
Estes highlighted Weir’s ability to blend intimacy with a powerful sense of presence
in the portrait, which now resides in the gallery’s History Makers space. The image was originally taken during the “Brat” era, the 2024 album that became a pop cultural phenomenon for its candour and debauchery.
The portrait’s acquisition aligns with the gallery’s mission to document contemporary figures shaping culture. Moving between the experimental and the mainstream, she has built a career characterized by reinvention,
the gallery stated in a press release.
The Bukhman Foundation’s Role in Contemporary Collecting
The £1 million gift from the Bukhman Foundation, which supports the gallery’s contemporary acquisitions, underscores the institution’s commitment to documenting modern cultural figures. Anastasia Bukhman, co-founder of the foundation, called it an “honour” to support the National Portrait Gallery in telling the story of our own time.
The gallery’s decision to add Charli’s portrait reflects her impact on music, fashion, and film. The album’s cover, shot by her long-term filmic collaborator Aidan Zamiri, features a head-turning ensemble portrait to represent each of the three artistic mediums.
Charli XCX’s Response to the Acquisition
While Charli XCX has not publicly commented on the acquisition, her recent actions suggest a willingness to engage with institutional recognition. In a July 2026 Instagram post, she acknowledged fans’ demand for previously unreleased songs, stating, I felt adamant I wouldn’t put them on streaming because it sort of felt counterintuitive to the whole ethos of those songs, but I know you all really wanted them so I’ve begrudgingly put them on iTunes lol.
The gallery’s acquisition also coincides with Charli’s ongoing film career. She is set to appear in The Gallerest, a comedy thriller, and the remake of the 1978 horror movie Faces of Death. Her upcoming projects include a role in Gregg Araki’s I Want Your Sex and a collaboration with Takashi Miike on an untitled film. These ventures highlight her expansion beyond music into visual storytelling.
Reception and Criticism of the Album
The album’s release coincided with Charli’s bid for a UK No. 1 chart position, with the midweek chart placing it at the top ahead of releases by Snow Patrol and the Strokes. Her previous soundtrack for Wuthering Heights topped the chart in February. The gallery’s acquisition of her portrait underscores her status as a multifaceted artist shaping contemporary culture.
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