Sam Smith’s portrait, titled “Gloria,” has been unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery in London, an event Smith described as an “honour.”
The artwork, part of Smith’s personal collection, depicts them in a heavenly setting, playing a harp and wearing angel wings designed by JW Anderson.
Created by the renowned art duo Pierre Commoy and Gilles Blanchard, known as Pierre et Gilles, the piece joins other significant portraits in the newly reopened History Makers gallery, which was closed for three years for refurbishment.
Smith expressed their admiration for Pierre et Gilles, noting the iconic nature of their work with celebrities like Jean Paul Gaultier and Marc Almond.
They shared their excitement about the National Portrait Gallery’s request to loan the piece and emphasized the importance of supporting the arts.
Smith, who uses the pronoun “they,” gained fame with Disclosure’s 2012 song “Latch” and Naughty Boy’s 2013 track “La La La,” and has since achieved eight UK number one singles and three UK number one albums, including “Gloria” in 2023.
