Modern Portraiture

The Art of the Selfie

Call it narcissism in the digital age, call it mirror face -- but selfies are the subject of a new show at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Unsurprisingly, it's called the National #Selfie Portrait Gallery.

Jesse Darling/National Selfie Portrait Gallery

By Erin CunninghamOct 18, 2013

galleries/2013/10/18/national-selfie-portrait-gallery/selfie-tease_by0bbq — Selfies have become an international phenomenon. Thanks to the accessibility of the Internet and the self-absorption of us all, it's hard to imagine the concept of taking a selfie as a form of art. But Brooklyn-based curators Kyle Chayka and Marina Galperinais focus on just that in their new video installation, The National #Selfie Portrait Gallery, on display now at the Moving Image Art Fesival in London. From Leslie Kulesh's typical "girl going out" bathroom shot, to a topless Carlos Sáez flashing his muscles for the iPhone, a look at how the selfie has, in a way, become the modern version of self-portraiture.
National Selfie Portrait Gallery

galleries/2013/10/18/national-selfie-portrait-gallery/selfie-darling_no8muz — Jesse Darling/National Selfie Portrait Gallery

galleries/2013/10/18/national-selfie-portrait-gallery/selfie-washko_brexc1 — Angela Washko/National Selfie Portrait Gallery

galleries/2013/10/18/national-selfie-portrait-gallery/selfie-musson_jh74ib — Jayson Musson/National Selfie Portrait Gallery

galleries/2013/10/18/national-selfie-portrait-gallery/selfie-leonard_ilnr9d — Rollin Leonard/National Selfie Portrait Gallery

galleries/2013/10/18/national-selfie-portrait-gallery/selfie-wall_qmsrqa — Saoirse Wall/National Selfie Portrait Gallery

galleries/2013/10/18/national-selfie-portrait-gallery/selfie-wagenknecht_sky5jd — Addie Wagenknecht/National Selfie Portrait Gallery

galleries/2013/10/18/national-selfie-portrait-gallery/selfie-porter_cktxai — Alexander Porter/National Selfie Portrait Gallery

galleries/2013/10/18/national-selfie-portrait-gallery/selfie-rogers_xxb0uf — Bunny Rogers/National Selfie Portrait Gallery

galleries/2013/10/18/national-selfie-portrait-gallery/selfie-outlawcatron_pe7rfx — Paul Outlaw and Jen Catron/National Selfie Portrait Gallery

galleries/2013/10/18/national-selfie-portrait-gallery/selfie-cortright_dsbr3p — Petra Cortright/National Selfie Portrait Gallery

galleries/2013/10/18/national-selfie-portrait-gallery/selfie-saez_mf2sin — Carlos Saez/National Selfie Portrait Gallery

galleries/2013/10/18/national-selfie-portrait-gallery/selfie-swan_b9brr8 — Daniel Swan/National Selfie Portrait Gallery

galleries/2013/10/18/national-selfie-portrait-gallery/selfie-kulesh_jpxyio — Leslie Kulesh/National Selfie Portrait Gallery

galleries/2013/10/18/national-selfie-portrait-gallery/selfie-antonellis_q1advt — Anthony Antonellis/National Selfie Portrait Gallery

galleries/2013/10/18/national-selfie-portrait-gallery/selfie-jake_o4j7cm — Yung Jake/National Selfie Portrait Gallery

galleries/2013/10/18/national-selfie-portrait-gallery/selfie-chan_iiceey — Jennifer Chan/National Selfie Portrait Gallery

galleries/2013/10/18/national-selfie-portrait-gallery/selfie-asendorf-fach_gwevbr — Kim Asendorf and Ole Fach/National Selfie Portrait Gallery

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