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Charli XCX’s ‘Brat’ image added to the National Portrait Gallery
A photograph of Charli XCX associated with her acclaimed 2024 album *Brat* has been added to the National Portrait Gallery’s collection. The inclusion recognises the cultural influence of the artist and an album whose visual identity and music became a prominent part of contemporary pop culture.
The image was taken by photographer David Levene for a 2024 profile in *The Guardian*, and depicts Charli XCX against the album’s distinctive lime-green backdrop. *Brat* reached number one in the UK album charts and helped drive a wider “Brat summer” trend, making the photograph a record of a significant moment in British popular music.
In short
- A Charli XCX *Brat* photograph has entered the National Portrait Gallery collection.
- The image was taken by David Levene for *The Guardian*.
- *Brat* became a major UK pop-cultural phenomenon.
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The case for
Museum institutions have a responsibility to document culture as it emerges, not only after it has passed into history. Charli XCX's Brat represented a genuine cultural moment—the album topped UK charts and the associated aesthetic became a recognisable phenomenon. By capturing contemporary significance through portraiture, the National Portrait Gallery ensures its collection reflects living culture and remains relevant to present audiences. Including such works makes museums active participants in cultural documentation rather than purely historical archives.
The case against
Museums operate with finite resources and must exercise careful curatorial judgment to maintain their integrity and utility. Not every culturally prominent moment justifies acquisition; much contemporary pop culture proves ephemeral and loses relevance within years. The National Portrait Gallery's careful standards have built a collection of lasting importance, and a measured approach—allowing time to test whether recent cultural phenomena prove historically significant—better serves the institution's long-term mission. Resisting the pressure to document every trend protects the collection's coherence and ensures acquisitions represent genuine historical importance rather than momentary enthusiasm.
Explained simply
Charli XCX is a British pop artist whose music often pushes the boundaries of mainstream pop. In 2024, she released an album called *Brat*, which became a major commercial and cultural success in the UK, reaching number one on the charts.
The album's striking visual identity—particularly its distinctive lime-green aesthetic—combined with its music to create a wider cultural phenomenon known as "Brat summer". The image and music resonated widely, influencing contemporary pop culture and making it a defining moment in recent British music.
The National Portrait Gallery is the UK's primary museum for collecting and displaying photographs and artworks of culturally significant figures and moments. By acquiring this photograph for its collection, the gallery is officially recognising *Brat* as an important milestone in recent British popular culture.