The National Portrait Gallery is set to shine a new light on one of the most formidable figures of 20th-century British art with Lucian Freud: Drawing into Painting, an exhibition opening in February 2026. Marking the UK’s first museum show devoted specifically to Freud’s works on paper, the exhibition reaffirms his standing as one of England’s foremost portraitists and a defining voice in modern figurative painting.

Lucian Freud's Man’s Head, Portrait I (1963), Photo Credit: Lucien Freud Archive

Lucian Freud (1922–2011) achieved international recognition for portraits and nude studies that are uncompromising, psychologically charged, and intensely observed. His dedication to portraiture, combined with a meticulous working practice and distinctive techniques, resulted in images that confront the realities of flesh, presence, and identity with clinical honesty. These qualities have secured Freud a lasting reputation as one of Britain’s most influential artists

Spanning the 1930s to the early 21st century, Drawing into Painting explores Freud’s lifelong fascination with the human face and body through his mastery of drawing in all its forms. Pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, and etching are presented not as preparatory exercises, but as central to his artistic vision. A carefully chosen group of paintings will appear alongside these works on paper, revealing the dynamic dialogue between drawing and painting that underpinned Freud’s practice.

Ahead of the exhibition, the National Portrait Gallery has strengthened its holdings with the acquisition of twelve works from Freud’s estate, including eight etchings—the first of their kind to enter the Gallery’s collection. Among them is an etching of his daughter, fashion designer Bella Freud, which will be displayed alongside archival research and previously unseen material.

'Bella in her Pluto T shirt', Lucien Freud, Photo Credit: National Portrait Gallery

The work, ‘Bella in her Pluto T shirt’, offers a compelling insight into Lucian Freud’s relentless scrutiny of the human face and his exacting graphic practice. At first glance, the image appears informal: Bella wears a simple T-shirt, her pose unguarded and direct. Yet Freud’s handling transforms this apparent casualness into something far more intense. Every line is deliberate, probing the structure of the head and the psychological presence of the sitter. The face was redrawn on 17 May 1995, indicative of Freud’s method of revision.

'Girl in Bed', Lucien Freud, Photo Credit: National Portrait Gallery

This etching forms part of a significant new acquisition by the National Portrait Gallery: one of 12 works obtained from Freud’s estate ahead of the 2026 exhibition. It also belongs to a larger group of 143 state, trial and cancellation proofs from the collection of Marc Balakjian of Studio Prints, Freud’s long-time printer and close collaborator. These proofs illuminate the intense, collaborative process behind Freud’s printmaking, revealing etching as a medium of exploration rather than reproduction.

Shown alongside drawings, paintings and archival material, Bella in her Pluto T shirt exemplifies the “dialogue” at the heart of Lucian Freud: Drawing into Painting. It demonstrates how Freud’s searching line on paper fed directly into his painted practice, and how portraiture, whether of family or friends, remained the central, driving force of his art throughout his life.

The exhibition is Freud’s first at the National Portrait Gallery since the landmark Lucian Freud Portraits retrospective in 2012, and promises a fresh, revealing perspective on an artist who transformed modern portraiture. Simply show your Cultivist card at the National Portrait Gallery to enjoy instant access to Freud’s highly anticipated exhibition.