LGBTQ+ and human rights campaigner ‘delighted and honoured’ to have painting by Sarah Jane Moon on display
Harriet Sherwood Tue 30 Jul 2024 00.00 EDT
Peter Tatchell’s portrait is in the History Makers gallery alongside other prominent public figures. Photograph: National Portrait Gallery
A vibrant portrait of the LGBTQ+ and human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has been hung in the National Portrait Gallery’s History Makers gallery as part of a drive to better reflect the diversity of the UK.
The painting by Sarah Jane Moon shows Tatchell in a casual pose, seated with his hands clasping his left calf. The 72-year-old activist is sporting a rainbow tie to celebrate almost six decades of fighting for LGBTQ+ rights.
Tatchell, who has experienced more than 300 violent assaults and has been arrested or detained by police more than 100 times, said he was “delighted and honoured” to have his portrait in the gallery “alongside so many esteemed public figures”.
“I love the bold, expressive, joyful style [of the painting], which reflects the spirit of my campaigns,” he added. He consciously chose brightly coloured clothes for sittings in order to avoid “the sombre, dark tones” of many portraits.
Although few men routinely wear ties these days, it is not unusual for Tatchell. He realised many years ago that people had “preconceptions about campaigners in T-shirts. I put on a tie and people started treating me much more seriously, so I’ve stuck with ties ever since.” (snip-More)
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