Exhibition:Art of the Selfie

National Museum Cardiff

Book Tickets

Is a self-portrait the original selfie? Our exciting new Amgueddfa Cymru exhibition Art of the Selfie explores and asks this question, looking at how artists through time, from Rembrandt and Van Gogh to Bedwyr Williams and Anya Paintsil, see and represent themselves.

Throughout history, many artists have used self-portraits as ways to explore their identities and express themselves to the world. Van Gogh painted no fewer than thirty-five self-portraits and so became arguably one of the most recognizable faces in Western art.  This exhibition will feature Van Gogh’s Portrait of the Artist (1887), which is on loan from Musée d’Orsay, Paris. 


Joining Van Gogh will be a selection of artists from the national collection of Wales, including

  • Rembrandt
  • Brenda Chamberlain
  • Francis Bacon
  • Bedwyr Williams
  • Anya Painstil. 

Together they showcase a wide range of different methods and artistic approaches to the concept of the self-portrait. 


Self-portraits and selfies are two different things, but they do have something in common - both are used to show who you are as a person. Out of all the ways we document our lives, selfies have become a popular method of self-expression and individualism. 


The works on display show the different ways in which artists have chosen to characterize themselves in the same way we present and share images of ourselves today.                           
How do you see yourself?  

Tickets

With a minimum ticket price of £1, we are encouraging you to pay what you can. Whether you choose to pay £1, £5, £10 or more, you will help us to create new, inspiring ways for people to come and enjoy the national collection. If you’d like to play an active part in sharing the amazing stories of Wales, please, pay as much you can – and accept our massive thanks in return. 

Members go free! 

Support Amgueddfa Cymru and enjoy exclusive offers and benefits. Find out more about becoming a member here . Support Amgueddfa Cymru and enjoy exclusive offers and benefits. 

Educational workshops on the theme of self portraits are available to schools. More details here

Information

16 March 2024 – 26 January 2025, 10am-5pm
Cost Pay What You Can
Suitability All

Anya Painstil ©The Artist, courtesy of Ed Cross Fine Art/Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales

© Brenda Chamberlain/Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales/Reuven Jasser

Tickets

Date Time slots available
11 October 2024 10.45 11.15 11.45 12.15 12.45 13.15 13.45 14.15 14.45 15.15 15.45 16.15 View Tickets
12 October 2024 10.15 10.45 11.15 11.45 12.15 12.45 13.15 13.45 14.15 14.45 15.15 15.45 16.15 View Tickets
13 October 2024 10.15 10.45 11.15 11.45 12.15 12.45 13.15 13.45 14.15 14.45 15.15 15.45 16.15 View Tickets
15 October 2024 10.15 10.45 11.15 11.45 12.15 12.45 13.15 13.45 14.15 14.45 15.15 15.45 16.15 View Tickets
16 October 2024 10.45 11.15 11.45 12.15 12.45 13.15 13.45 14.15 14.45 15.15 15.45 16.15 View Tickets
17 October 2024 10.15 10.45 11.15 11.45 12.15 12.45 13.15 13.45 14.15 14.45 15.15 15.45 16.15 View Tickets
18 October 2024 10.15 10.45 11.15 11.45 12.15 12.45 13.15 13.45 14.15 14.45 15.15 15.45 16.15 View Tickets
19 October 2024 10.15 10.45 11.15 11.45 12.15 12.45 13.15 13.45 14.15 14.45 15.15 15.45 16.15 View Tickets
20 October 2024 10.15 10.45 11.15 11.45 12.15 12.45 13.15 13.45 14.15 14.45 15.15 15.45 16.15 View Tickets
22 October 2024 11.15 11.45 12.15 12.45 13.15 13.45 14.15 14.45 15.15 15.45 16.15 View Tickets

Related events

National Museum Cardiff
From 16 March 2024, 12.00; 13.30; 15.00

Plan your visit

Parking

A Visitor Car Park is situated behind the Museum, off Museum Avenue. Visitors parking here will receive a ticket at the point of entry and need to pay £6.50 for the day at a pay-station located at the rear of the car park. Please note that the pay-stations only accept card payments – no cash payments are accepted. Visitors can use any credit/debit cards (except for American Express), or Apple or Android Pay.

Parking is free to blue badge holders. Please use the intercom at the exit barrier to verify your blue badge permit. Disabled parking is also available at the front of the Museum, on Gorsedd Gardens Road.

Visting by public transport, bike or foot?

You can plan your journey using the Traveline Cymru website or by calling their helpline on 0800 464 0000.

Eat, Drink, Shopping

  • The Museum café in the Main Hall is open every day 10am-4pm offering a range of drinks and snacks.
  • The restaurant is open weekends and bank holidays at 11am-3pm.

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If you prefer to visit when we’re less crowded, there are usually fewer people on our site from 3pm each day.

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