British-born South African-based artist Ros Koch has been selected for the 2026 Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery in London.
South African-based artist Ros Koch has been selected for the 2026 HSFK Portrait Award in London, with her portrait titled “The Age of Adolescence”.The painting, inspired by her middle daughter, explores adolescence and the idea that life is a continuous journey of learning. The artwork is set to be exhibited in London from 25 June to 7 October 2026.
British-born South African-based artist Ros Koch has been selected to exhibit her work at the National Portrait Gallery in London as part of a prestigious international portrait award.
The Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (HSFK) 2026 Portrait Award recognises emerging and established artists from around the world, celebrating the very best in contemporary portraiture.
Koch, who is based in Stellenbosch, said that having her first-ever submission to the Portrait Award accepted for display at the National Portrait Gallery is a full-circle moment for her.
On receiving the news, Koch said she was gobsmacked. It was her first entry into the gallery.
“I didn’t even really entertain that idea. I just fired off an email to the National Portrait Gallery. I got them to confirm that it wasn’t a hoax,” she said.
READ | Standard Bank Young Artist Awards 2026: SA’s rising stars shaping the future of culture
She added that the most difficult part was keeping the news confidential for almost four months, but she let out a sigh of relief when some of her family members could guess what the secret was without her having to explain why she was going to London.
“My twin sister knows me well enough to have guessed what the reason was for me coming over.”
Middle daughter muse
According to Koch, she began her portrait design with a verdaccio underpainting to build a foundation for the vibrant flesh tones. She then went on to build in layers of restrained colour, which juxtaposed cool tones with warm light. Her middle daughter’s baggy grey jumper served as a symbolic anchor and a self that’s still under construction. Within that grey, Koch left gaps to reveal a subtle inner glow and an internal luminosity that guided her daughter through the shadows of coming of age.
Koch said she worked in homage to Rembrandt by using her palette knife to carve away wet layers, scraping back to reveal razor-sharp details.
She described the painting process as a mimic of her parenting journey, capturing her daughter’s young life caught between who she has been and who she is becoming.
“To have this work, which is rooted in my lived experience as both a parent and an advocate for young people, resonate within an international context is deeply meaningful,” said Koch.
Koch said that, instead of being prescriptive, she hopes each audience member will interpret the portrait in their own unique way.
According to Koch, the painting represents the idea that life is not linear.
“It’s OK not to be perfect and to not try and be a finished person – you’re always going to be developing, you’re always going to be learning,” she said.
“Making a wrong decision or doing the imperfect thing will open other doors which you may not have otherwise known were there.”
Koch’s portrait, titled The Age of Adolescence, will be exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in London between 25 June and 7 October.