Curtis Holder won Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year in 2020 and was commissioned to draw Carlos Acosta, director of Birmingham Royal Ballet.

This display brings together portraits Curtis made during the competition and his working sketches, showing his journey towards the final portrait and telling the story in his own words. Curtis was inspired by the Pre-Raphaelite art in Birmingham’s collection, and six of the Briar Rose series by Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898) are also on show.

This display is the first in the new Contemporary Voices gallery, where artists, makers and communities respond to Birmingham’s collection and to people and events that resonate in our city.