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Alexander Newley is a leading contemporary portrait painter on both sides of the Atlantic, known for his iconic depictions of major figures in the Arts, including Gore Vidal, Billy Wilder, Christopher Reeve, Oliver Stone and Steven Berkoff. His portrait of America's infamous polemicist and wit, Vidal, and his dramatic triple-portrait of Actor, Activist and former star of Superman, Christopher Reeve, imprisoned in his life-supporting wheelchair, form part of the permanent collection of The National Portrait Gallery at The Smithsonian in Washington DC.

His portraits of Sir Nigel Hawthorne in character as Mad King George III, were commissioned by the English National Theatre to promote their production of Alan Bennett's play "The Madness of George III", and his portrait of writer, Dominick Dunne, scribbling in his notebook during his coverage for Vanity Fair of the OJ Simpson trial in Los Angeles, was chosen for the cover of Dunne's best-selling memoir about the trial, "Another City, Not My Own," and went on to achieve widespread exposure all over America. In 2006, Newley’s full-length portrait of Hawthorne was acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum for their permanent collection celebrating Theatre in the 20th century.

Other successes have included his mesmeric, multilayered "Head of Lincoln" which is now the central feature at The Lincoln Heritage Museum in Springfield, Illinois—the home of Lincoln studies--and his bravura portrait of Lord Jeffrey Archer, mischievously hiding his face behind his hands. Working mainly in pastels and oils, and making a close study over many years of the Old Masters, Newley has evolved a style that combines the best virtues of classical technique with the energy and edge of contemporary subject matter.

To learn more visit www.alexandernewley.com