Red Shoes

I’m thrilled that Red Shoes has been selected for the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2026 at the National Portrait Gallery.

The painting began with a photograph taken by my husband. Several photographs were taken from different angles, both standing and sitting, but this particular pose felt the most dynamic. Dressed in Sunday best and red heels, the image had a strength and stillness that I wanted to explore further.

Much of my work is concerned with the body, skin tone, light and the way Black figures are seen. In Red Shoes, clothing becomes part of that same conversation. The pose, the dress, the shoes and the act of dressing up all become ways of thinking about identity, presence and self-presentation.

The painting also reflects my interest in the female dandy, dressed up, confident, composed and taking up space. Part of the inspiration came from the 2025 Met Gala theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, which explored the history and cultural significance of Black dandyism. But the earliest understanding of style came from much closer to home.

Growing up in London in a Jamaican family, there was always an awareness of how people dressed. Parents, elders, uncles, aunts and older siblings were often impeccably put together, especially when going out to parties and sound systems. That care, pride and attention to presentation made a lasting impression.

Fashion and style have always played a big role in my life, from studying fashion design and illustration to the loose, gestural line that still runs through my work. Clothing can affect how people respond to you, and style can become a way of communicating before anything is said. In relation to race, class and Black identity, that visual language carries even more weight.

Red Shoes brings together many of these ideas: portraiture, style, the body, Caribbean heritage, self-presentation and the power of being seen on your own terms.

It feels very special to be included in an exhibition that celebrates portraiture today, and the many different ways artists approach it. Portraiture has always been central to my practice, not only as a way of capturing likeness, but as a way of thinking about presence, identity and representation.

To have this work shown in that context feels especially meaningful, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to share it with a wider audience.

The exhibition runs from 25 June to 7 October 2026 at the National Portrait Gallery, London, with free admission. Please do visit and hopefully I will see you there!

Anji Richards.