2017

In 2017, Benjamin Ogbebor, an “unknown” British Nigerian won the Ruth Borchard Self-Portrait Prize, with his painting Self Portrait II, (2017). Selected by judges Dr Xavier Bray (Director, The Wallace Collection), Charlotte Mullins (art critic and author), Alastair Sooke, (broadcaster and art critic at The Daily Telegraph), Marilyn Scott (Director, The Lighbox), Shanti Panchal (2015 Winner), and Richard Borchard (son of Ruth Ruth Borchard), Ogbebor’s work was praised for its technical brilliance and powerful rendering of the inner self.

The work demonstrates the powerful possibility of self-portraiture as a platform for individual expression and cultural heritage. Living in Hackney and trained in both London and Nigeria, Ogbebor context represents a longstanding connection between Britain and the Commonwealth States.

From this exhibition an unrivalled number of works were purchased for the Ruth Borchard Next Generation Collection, including works by Tracey Emin,  Michael Ajerman, Susan Engledow, Oli Epp, Alicia France, Rebecca Harper, Kimberly Klauss, Jennifer McRae, Jim McLean, Howard Morgan, Ishbel Myerscough, Gideon Rubin, Tai-Shan Schierenberg and Helen Wilson.