Press
THE FUTURE IS FABULOUS: FOUR QUEER ARTISTS TO WATCH IN 2025
“Celebrated for his dynamic painting style, Brogan works directly from life, bringing energy and vitality to his portraits. His art captures the nuances of human connection with honesty and tenderness, crafting vivid representations that go beyond surface appearances. As the 2024 winner of Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year, Brogan is widely regarded as one of the most exciting emerging talents in contemporary portraiture.”
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: WINNER OF SKY ARTS PORTRAIT ARTIST OF THE YEAR SERIES 11
Cass Art
Whilst a visual likeness is important to you, it’s clear it’s secondary to a more visceral likeness, a likeness of personality and character. On the programme, we see some of your sitters become emotional when they see your depiction of them, you manage to capture the ‘real’ person, and they feel truly seen. How do you achieve this?
It’s more emotional than technical. I think you share something with your sitter when you make a piece of art together. I’m not trying to create a carbon copy of them on the canvas - I’m trying to translate a moment we’ve shared together into something tangible. An attempt that is very human - trying to hold something that slips away so easily. It’s very human to miss a technical likeness and capture something that feels a little off and a little real. And I’m interested in that human thing.
TRANS CONTESTANT WINS POPULAR PORTRAIT ARTIST OF THE YEAR COMPETITION
Yahoo
Brogan Bertie, a trans artist celebrated for his evocative portraits, has been crowned Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2024. The competition show’s finale aired on Wednesday, 11 December, with Bertie winning a £10,000 commission to paint TV presenter Lorraine Kelly.
MARGATE’S BROGAN BERTIE NAMED SKY ARTS PORTRAIT ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2024
Isle of Thanet News
For the winner’s commission, Brogan depicted TV personality Lorraine Kelly sitting in an Orkney chair, wearing her favourite coat with Angus, her Border Terrier, on the move at her feet. Brogan said: “I wanted to use her outfit to wink towards her playful and conscious interaction with the spotlight while still investigating a more introspective, intimate side of her. The direct gaze is an invitation for the viewer to sit in conversation with Lorraine.”
EXCLUSIVE TRANS ARTIST BROGAN BERTIE HAS BEEN NAMED PORTRAIT ARTIST OF THE YEAR AND EARNED A £10,000 COMMISSION TO PAINT LORRAINE KELLY
Pink News
“What an incredible platform the team, the crew, and the judges have created to champion so many different approaches to contemporary portraiture! I feel very lucky to have been a part of it.
“And I couldn’t have asked for a better sitter than Lorraine; she was so generous with her energy and I’m proud of the portrait we made together showcasing her strength, warmth, humour, and well-earned gravitas.”