A new exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London is shining a spotlight on one of the most groundbreaking magazines in British history—The Face. Titled The Face Magazine: Culture Shift, the exhibition captures the magazine’s first 25 years, from 1980 to 2004, and its significant influence on style, music, and youth culture.
The Face was founded by Nick Logan, the former editor of New Musical Express (NME) and creator of Smash Hits. Recognizing a gap in the market for a magazine that catered to a young, culturally engaged audience, Logan launched The Face as a monthly publication that blended music, fashion, photography, and social commentary. The magazine quickly became a trendsetter, shaping the visual and cultural identity of the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s.
The exhibition features an array of iconic photographs, including portraits of legendary figures such as Kate Moss, David Bowie, Blur, and Kylie Minogue. These images not only captured the essence of the time but also helped define new aesthetic and stylistic movements. A notable example from 1994, shot by Inez & Vinoodh, showcases the innovative use of digital image manipulation in fashion photography, highlighting the magazine’s forward-thinking approach.
According to Lee Swillingham, former art director of The Face and consultant curator of the exhibition, the magazine was a hotbed of creativity. “It was an amazing place to work. I became art director at just 23, and I had the freedom to take it in a new direction—full of color, energy, and early digital enhancements.”
Ekow Eshun, a former assistant editor of The Face, recalls how the magazine went beyond covering fashion trends. “It had the ability to discuss everything from postmodernism to speculative fiction alongside the latest in streetwear,” he explained. “It encouraged a generation to think deeply about culture while embracing style and music.”
This unique blend of high and low culture made The Face more than just a fashion magazine—it became a cultural touchstone. Through its pages, readers were introduced to emerging subcultures, underground music scenes, and avant-garde fashion movements that were often overlooked by mainstream media.
During the 1980s and 1990s, The Face thrived, reflecting and shaping the burgeoning clubbing and rave cultures. However, as the early 2000s brought about the rise of the internet and an increasingly saturated print market, the magazine struggled to maintain its influence. It ultimately ceased publication in 2004.
Yet, its legacy was too powerful to fade away. In 2019, The Face was revived both in print and online, continuing its tradition of covering the cutting edge of style and culture.
Sabina Jaskot-Gill, senior curator of photographs at the National Portrait Gallery, emphasizes the magazine’s enduring impact. “The Face didn’t just document contemporary culture—it played an active role in shaping it. The magazine encouraged photographers, writers, and artists to challenge norms and redefine trends, making it one of the most influential publications of its time.”
For those eager to revisit the magic of The Face, The Face Magazine: Culture Shift is on display at the National Portrait Gallery from February 20 to May 18. The exhibition serves as both a nostalgic journey and a testament to the magazine’s lasting impact on visual culture, proving that The Face remains as relevant as ever.
This exhibition brings together the work of over 80 photographers, including Sheila Rock, Stéphane Sednaoui, Corinne Day, David Sims, Elaine Constantine and Sølve Sundsbø, and features over 200 photographs – a unique opportunity to see many of these images away from the magazine page for the first time.
The Face Magazine: Culture Shift is curated by Sabina Jaskot-Gill, Senior Curator of Photographs at the National Portrait Gallery, in collaboration with curatorial consultants Lee Swillingham, former Art Director of The Face (1992–1999), and Norbert Schoerner, a photographer whose work was prominently featured in the magazine throughout the 1990s and 2000s.
The exhibition is accompanied by a publication of the same name, with contributions from Ekow Eshun, Sabina Jaskot-Gill, Jamie Morgan, Pete Paphides and Matthew Whitehouse, and interviews with Nick Logan and Lee Swillingham; Neville Brody, Jill Furmanovsky and Sheila Rock; Elaine Constantine, Glen Luchford and Nancy Rohde; and Norbert Schoerner and Stéphane Sednaoui.
‘The Face Magazine: Culture Shift’ exhibition and events runs from 20 February – 18 May 2025
Find out how to visit here: https://www.npg.org.uk/