BP Portrait Award 2017 Shortlists All-Female Line-Up Of Sitters From 3 Male Artists

BP Portrait Award for 2017 shortlisted an all-female line-up of sitters from three male artists. The annual portrait competition is held at the National Portrait Gallery in London, England. With a prize money of £30,000, it is regarded as one of the most prestigious competitions in contemporary art. The artworks selected for this year's BP Portrait Award including the top nominations will be displayed at The National Portrait Gallery in London.

The exhibition starting from June 22, will hand over an award of £30,000 to the winner, while runner-ups will get £10,000 and £8,000 respectively. According to BBC News, the three male artists who saw their work being shortlisted are Thomas Ehretsmann, Antony Williams and Benjamin Sullivan. Thomas Ehretsmann portrayed his pregnant wife and was selected for the top prize of the BP Portrait Award. Benjamin Sullivan's portrayal of his wife breastfeeding their daughter and Antony Williams's nude portrayal of model Emma Bruce got them shortlisted for the highest honor.

The director of the NPG and chair of the judges, Nicholas Cullinan stated about the top nominations for BP Portrait Award for 2017: "I am delighted with this year's shortlist and the final selection of works for the exhibition, all of which provoked an immediate response from the judges - whether that is a reaction to the skill displayed by a particular artist or a more visceral connection with the sitter, subject matter or the mood conveyed." 

According to the guardian, this year BP Portrait Award had witnessed a total of 2,580 entries from 87 different countries; these numbers include 1,214 entries from the UK itself. The judging panel will have artist Michael Landy and broadcaster Kirsty Wark among them.

Thomas Ehretsmann and Antony Williams both had their work selected for the exhibition in previous years, but this is the first they will be looking for the top prize. While Williams's work was selected on seven previous occasions, Ehretsmann made the exhibition last year. Among the three artists, only Sullivan has tasted success as he won the third prize last year. Also, his work has been selected for the exhibition for a further 12 years in the BP Portrait Award. 

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