Sam Smith has said it was “an honour” to have a painting of them unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery in central London.

The work, called Gloria, is part of the singer songwriter’s own collection and shows them sitting in heavenly surroundings playing a harp, while wearing angel wings designed by JW Anderson.

The artwork was created by art duo Pierre Commoy and Gilles Blanchard, known as Pierre et Gilles, who have used painting and photography to depict celebrities such as Kylie Minogue, Madonna and Naomi Campbell.

It will join pictures of singer Harry Styles, Pride In London co-founder Peter Tatchell and race campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence in the new History Makers gallery.

The space reopened last year after being closed for three years for refurbishment.

The musician said: “I have admired the beautiful work of Pierre et Gilles for years, their incredible portraits of icons like Jean Paul Gaultier and Marc Almond are truly iconic, and to sit for them was a dream come true.

“I was so happy when the National Portrait Gallery asked me if they could loan the piece.

“It’s very important to me to support the arts. Being in their new History Makers section is an honour.”

Smith, who uses the pronoun “they”, first found fame on the 2012 Disclosure song Latch and Naughty Boy’s 2013 track La La La.

They have gone on to achieve eight UK number one singles and three UK number one albums, including Gloria in 2023.

Pierre et Gilles created the painting in 2023, by first taking a photo of Smith posing before then hand painting and embellishing the image.

The National Portrait Gallery says the image aims to mix “reality, daily life, dreams and fantasies”.

Clare Freestone, curator of photography at the gallery, said displaying the picture was an “amazing moment for Sam’s fans to connect on a deeper level with the portrait”.

“Its display presents a unique opportunity for visitors to see a much-loved artwork, borrowed from the singer’s own collection and on show for the first time in a public art gallery.”

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