‘Beard’ at Somerset House

Peak beard? Never. Be gone, naysayers. Embracing the full bodied delights of the beard, the eponymously titled, Beard, answers all the pogonophile’s prayers in this exhibition of beardy portraiture by Mr Elbank.

Featuring over 80 images of bearded folks, many being exhibited for the first time, Beard celebrates the art of facial hair grooming and the ‘trend’ for beards that has engulfed the world. With pogonophiles from all over the world, all walks of life, shapes and sizes, Beard is a fun and surprisingly beautiful exhibition, stretching along Somerset House’s Terrace Rooms.

Expect familiar faces such as Sir John Hurt and models Ricki Hall and Billy Huxley alongside other characters including tattoo artist Miles Better and Harnaam Kaur, a woman who has been growing her beard since age 16 after being diagnosed with polycystic ovaries syndrome.

Beard grew from Mr Elbank’s fantastic #Project60, wherein he photographed 60 people with beards for skin cancer charity campaigner Jimmy Niggles’ Beard Season. These photos were then shared on social media where, obviously, they went viral around the world. Beard brings together these 60 photographs from #Project60 plus new shots taken especially for the Somerset House exhibition.

Beautiful beards, beautiful photography, and a fantastic cause. Beard owners and appreciators will find much to admire in these furry faces (plus an added bonus of some impressive tattoos).

Don’t miss the series of Beard related events including Art Macabre Death Drawing Special with bearded nude life models (Wednesday 25 March) or learn how to keep your beard well preened and pruned with Captain Fawcett’s Grooming Parlour Talk (Thursday 26 March).

Beard is open until Sunday 29 March at:

Terrace Rooms
Somerset House
The Strand
WC2R 1LA

Admission is free.