Charli XCX has shared her excitement after learning that the National Portrait Gallery in London has officially acquired her portrait for its permanent collection. The British hitmaker celebrated the milestone across social media, calling the recognition “crazy” as the photograph went on immediate display in the gallery’s History Makers exhibition.
On her Instagram Story, Charli wrote: “this is crazy. ty for putting me on the wall @nationalportraitgallery photo by @harleyweir.” She later echoed her excitement on X, adding: “honored to be hanging on the wall!!!!” The reactions arrived shortly after the gallery confirmed that Harley Weir’s striking 2024 portrait of the Grammy-winning pop star had entered its permanent collection.
The image captures Charli—born Charlotte Emma Aitchison—leaning against a wall in a white crop top and unbuttoned black jeans, embodying the fearless, rebellious spirit that came to define her Brat era. Shot by acclaimed fashion photographer Harley Weir, the portrait has been installed in the National Portrait Gallery’s History Makers gallery as part of its Collecting the Now initiative, a program dedicated to preserving contemporary figures who are shaping modern culture. The initiative is supported by a £1 million gift from the Bukhman Foundation.
Senior curator of photographs Brandei Estes praised the acquisition, describing Weir’s work as combining “intimacy with a powerful sense of presence” while recognizing Charli as one of the defining cultural voices of her generation. The addition places the singer alongside other influential artists, creatives and public figures whose contributions have left a lasting mark on British culture.
The announcement comes during another major week in Charli’s career. On Friday, July 24, she released her latest album, Music, Fashion, Film, which earned widespread critical acclaim and opened with 10.5 million Spotify streams in its first day. The project is also tracking toward a strong debut on both the UK Albums Chart and the Billboard 200, extending the momentum she built following the global success of Brat in 2024.
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