It has been announced  that the Saatchi Gallery and Huawei will present the first Saatchi show to exhibit self-portraits of the public with The #SaatchiSelfie Competition which launched on Monday. 

(clockwise from top left:  Rembrandt van Rijn Self-Portrait with Two Circles, Juno Calypso The Honeymoon Suite, Actor Benedict Cumberbatch jumps behind U2 at the 86th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, Cindy Sherman Untitled Film Still #21.).

Opening at the Saatchi Gallery from the 31st March, the exhibition will examine the history behind the selfie from the old masters to the present day while celebrating the creative potential of a form of expression that is often derided.

It will be an opportunity to highlight the emerging role of the smartphone as a form of self-expression through the commissioning ten exciting Young British Photographers to create new works using Huawei’s newest dual lens smartphones co-engineered with Leica, as part of their artistic practice.

From Selfie to Self Expression will display a number of key works by artists such as Kutluğ Ataman, Christopher Baker, Juno Calypso, Tracey Emin, Van Gogh, Mohau Modisakeng, Rembrandt, Cindy Sherman, Gavin Turk and Velazquez.

Taking over one floor of the Saatchi Gallery, the exhibition will also include selfies that have quickly become icons of the digital era.

Nigel Hurst, CEO of the Saatchi Gallery said: “The exhibition will present a compelling insight into the history and creative potential of the selfie, while the #SaatchiSelfie competition provides a global platform for Self-Expression. Our commissioning of work by ten young British Photographers completes the narrative and highlights the exciting potential of the very latest technology to encourage creativity.” 

Selfie to Self-Expression will be on display at the Saatchi Gallery from the 31st March until the 23rd July. For more information visit: http://www.saatchigallery.com/selfie/.