One of the Most Important Contemporary Artists Gets the UK Museum Show She Deserves
London’s art scene is about to get a serious wake-up call. The National Portrait Gallery is gearing up for Jenny Saville: The Anatomy of Painting, the first major UK museum exhibition dedicated to one of the world’s most daring figurative painters. Opening 20 June 2025, this show is set to be the hottest ticket in town.
Saville has never played by the rules. Her massive, visceral portraits refuse to conform to traditional standards of beauty. Her raw, expressive brushstrokes capture flesh in all its intensity—imperfect, distorted, and utterly mesmerizing. The National Portrait Gallery will showcase 50 of her works, spanning from the 1990s to today, revealing the evolution of her obsession with the human form.
For those who live for cutting-edge creativity, this is unmissable.
Jenny Saville: Breaking Every Rule in Art
Saville’s career started with a bang. Her 1992 self-portrait Propped made waves at her Glasgow School of Art degree show. It was confrontational, unapologetic, and unlike anything seen before. Charles Saatchi took notice and the rest is art-world history.
Over the years, Saville has drawn inspiration from Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon, and Willem de Kooning. But her work isn’t just about influence—it’s about revolution. She studied plastic surgery to understand how flesh is reconstructed. She examined medical illustrations to see the layers beneath the skin. Her paintings reflect this deep fascination, exposing the fragile, almost sculptural nature of the human body.
Now, for the first time, Londoners get to see her full journey in one place.
The Anatomy of Painting: A Deep Dive into Saville’s Work
This exhibition isn’t just a greatest-hits compilation. It’s a chronological journey through Saville’s artistic process. Her early works, thick with paint and emotion, showcase the brutal honesty of the human form. Huge canvases dominate the space, forcing viewers to confront the reality of flesh.
Then, her mid-career pieces take a deeper dive into anatomy and transformation. These works, influenced by plastic surgery and medical dissection, offer a glimpse into the artist’s almost scientific approach to painting.
More recently, Saville has begun blurring the lines between figuration and abstraction. Her newest works layer brushstrokes in a way that suggests movement, dissolving faces and bodies into swirls of color. These pieces, glowing in saturated hues, feel as if they exist between the physical and digital world.
The Art of Drawing: Saville’s Other Superpower
While most know Saville for her paintings, drawing has always been a crucial part of her practice. The exhibition features charcoal and pastel sketches, many of which focus on pregnancy and motherhood. These delicate, intimate pieces channel Renaissance influences but with a modern edge.
Saville’s fascination with Michelangelo’s sculptural forms is evident in every stroke. But unlike the idealized bodies of the Renaissance, hers are real, raw, and flawed—which makes them all the more powerful.
Saville’s Influence on the Art World
Few artists have disrupted the contemporary art scene like Jenny Saville. She made figurative painting cool again at a time when it was considered outdated. Her work has been exhibited alongside the Young British Artists (YBAs), but she has always followed her own path.
Curator Sarah Howgate explains:
“Jenny Saville is one of the most important artists working today. This exhibition charts an exciting journey from the 1990s to now. Walking a tightrope between figuration and abstraction, the show celebrates the very nature of paint itself.”
Even Saville herself acknowledges the moment:
“This exhibition brings together the body of paintings I’ve made over forty years. It is with huge gratitude that I thank the National Portrait Gallery and the collectors who have agreed to loan my work.”
Why Shoreditch Art Lovers Need to See This
Shoreditch has long been the beating heart of London’s contemporary art scene. From Shoreditch street art to underground exhibitions, the area thrives on artistic rebellion. Saville’s work fits perfectly into this ethos.
Like the best of Shoreditch’s street artists, Saville challenges conventional beauty and embraces imperfection. Her exhibition feels like an extension of the creative energy pulsing through East London.
Don’t Miss This Exhibition
London is about to get a once-in-a-generation exhibition, and missing it would be a tragedy. Whether you’re an art lover, a creative, or just someone who appreciates a bit of rebellion, Jenny Saville: The Anatomy of Painting needs to be on your must-see list.
Tickets are free for visitors aged 25 and under, so there’s no excuse not to go. Book ahead, because this will be packed.
Key Details: Everything You Need to Know
📅 Opening Date: 20 June 2025
📍 Location: National Portrait Gallery, London
🎟️ Tickets: Free for visitors aged 25 and under, general tickets available online and in-gallery
🔗 More Info: National Portrait Gallery
