Whats On: ThE National Portrait Gallery, THE FACE MAGAZINE: CULTURE SHIFT
NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY - 20 FEBRUARY - 18 MAY
Kylie Minogue photographed by Norbert Schoerner in June 1994
Step back into the bold, rebellious world of 1990s youth culture with the National Portrait Gallery’s latest must-see exhibition — Face Magazine: Culture Shift. Nestled in the heart of London’s Soho & West End, this captivating show celebrates the lasting influence of The Face, the iconic, subversive magazine that redefined British style, music, and popular culture for a generation.
Running from 1980 to 2004, The Face was more than just a magazine — it was a cultural phenomenon. With its fearless approach to fashion, art, photography, and music, the publication set the tone for British and international youth culture, capturing a raw, unfiltered view of the creative energy that defined the era. It became a launchpad for now-legendary photographers, stylists, and cultural icons, pushing boundaries and blurring the lines between mainstream and underground culture.
The Face Magazine: Culture Shift exhibition brings together over 200 striking portraits and fashion photographs, offering a rare glimpse into the magazine’s archives. From boundary-breaking cover shoots to behind-the-scenes moments, the exhibition charts how The Face shaped — and was shaped by — the cultural movements of the time.
Visitors can expect to see unforgettable portraits of some of the magazine’s most iconic cover stars, including Kate Moss, Liam Gallagher, Kylie Minogue, and the late, great Alexander McQueen. These images captured not only the rising stars of music, fashion, and design but also the rebellious spirit and raw individuality that defined an entire generation.
Beyond the celebrity portraits, the exhibition explores how The Face championed diversity, street style, and subculture long before they became mainstream talking points. It provided a platform for emerging talent and celebrated those who dared to challenge convention — cementing its reputation as one of the most influential style publications in British history.
Housed within the recently refurbished National Portrait Gallery, the exhibition feels perfectly at home in the West End, an area synonymous with creativity, fashion, and cultural expression. Just steps away from the boutiques of Covent Garden, the bright lights of Leicester Square, and the galleries of Soho, this is a fitting location to explore the magazine that helped define the look and attitude of London’s youth for over two decades.
Whether you remember The Face from its heyday or are discovering its legacy for the first time, Face Magazine: Culture Shift offers an unmissable opportunity to explore the intersection of fashion, photography, and cultural history.
For anyone with an interest in design, youth culture, or British style, this exhibition is a Soho & West End highlight — and a reminder of how one magazine helped change the face of pop culture forever.
Plan your visit at npg.org.uk.