Post 16/FE

16+/Advanced Age 16-24

New portrait practice

Colleges to explore new portrait practice through bold, contemporary artistic expression. Students are encouraged to interpret David Bowie through their own unique perspective, challenging the traditional idea of portraiture while embracing experimentation across a wide range of artistic disciplines.

Entries may include painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, textiles, collage, mixed media, installation, found objects, assemblage, photography, large-scale contemporary works, conceptual art, performance-based pieces, and moving image. The emphasis is not on creating a literal likeness, but on exploring identity, transformation, memory and self-expression through innovative artistic practice.

This exhibition celebrates the next generation of artists, providing a platform for ambitious, thought-provoking contemporary work where portraiture becomes an exploration of ideas, materials and emotion as much as the human face. Each participating school will be invited to select four winning artworks, judged internally by teachers, before submitting high-quality scans to the Face the Strange selection panel. Selected originals will then be collected and exhibited as part of the Face the Strange Gallery at Aviva Studios, Manchester, during the David Bowie 80 celebrations in January 2027.

We also hope every participating school will celebrate the project by creating its own school exhibition on 8 January 2027, David Bowie's 80th birthday. Parents, families, friends and the wider school community can enjoy the children's work together in a celebration of creativity inspired by Bowie. Subject to available funding, we hope to provide small grants to help schools stage these exhibitions, including simple refreshments and display materials.

Selected schools may also be invited to take part in filming for a BBC documentary following the nationwide project, celebrating the creativity of young people and the legacy of one of Britain's most influential artists.

Concept and overview