Visit the Colyer-Fergusson to enjoy ‘A Portrait of Europe’, on display until the Thursday 26 May and provides an excellent way to spend a lunch hour.

The exhibition is open daily, with alumna Briony Kapoor on hand to answer questions and provide information about the paintings.

About the exhibition:

Portrait paintings of EU citizens by UK artists. An exhibition by the IMOS Foundation, forming part of the University’s Kent In Europe programme of activity.

In a unique yet simple venture the IMOS Foundation, a small Kent-based arts charity, founded and directed by Kent alumna Briony Kapoor, sent artists to paint the portraits of their EU compatriots. An example of European fellow feeling in action, the result is a brilliant exhibition which tethers the notion of a greater Europe to its people.

An artist was sent to each of the twenty eight countries of the Union, their brief was to find a European from that country and paint their portrait. They were given a guide as to gender and age then asked to work simply with someone whose face caught their eye and who was ameanable ot the project.

Seen together the portraits show us how comfortable Europe is in the early 21st Century. It is difficult to identify the different nationalities. Yet the subject from each nation, beginning as an unknown, becomes a star A Euro Star by participating for their country in this international collaboration.

The exhibition, of the highest quality artistically, can also be seen as a kind of billet doux, a demonstration of openness, amity and warm curiosity from the British, who despite sometimes seeming reluctant to bond with their continental neighbours, share so much of their identity with their EU partners.