Alexander Newley

Alexander Newley (born 8 September 1965 in New York City, New York), also known as Sacha Newley, is a British contemporary artist, portraitist, writer and teacher known for his paintings of major figures in the Arts,[1] including Gore Vidal, Billy Wilder,[2] Christopher Reeve, Oliver Stone and Steven Berkoff. His portraits of Vidal[3] and Reeve[4] form part of the permanent collection of The National Portrait Gallery at The Smithsonian in Washington DC. Also known as Sacha Newley, he is the only son of Dame Joan Collins,[5] one of two children from her second marriage, to actor Anthony Newley; the other child being singer Tara Newley.

Alexander Newley
Newley in 2016
Born
Alexander Anthony Newley

(1965-09-08) 8 September 1965
New York City, U.S.
Other namesSacha Newley
OccupationArtist, portraitist, writer, teacher
Spouse(s)
Angela Tassoni
​
​
(m. 2002; div. 2014)​
Children1
Parent(s)Anthony Newley
Dame Joan Collins
RelativesTara Newley (sister)
Websitealexandernewley.com

His portraits of Sir Nigel Hawthorne in character as Mad King George III were commissioned by the English National Theatre to promote their production of Alan Bennett's play "The Madness of George III". His portrait of writer Dominick Dunne[6] scribbling in his notebook during his coverage for Vanity Fair of the OJ Simpson trial in Los Angeles was chosen for the cover of Dunne's best-selling memoir about the trial, "Another City, Not My Own". In 2006, Newley's full-length portrait of Hawthorne was acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum for their permanent collection celebrating Theatre in the 20th century.[7]

His multilayered "Head of Lincoln"[8] is the central feature at The Lincoln Heritage Museum in Lincoln, Illinois—a prominent Abraham Lincoln museum. Newley also painted a portrait of Lord Jeffrey Archer, mischievously hiding his face behind his hands.

In 2016 Newley completed a series of portraits of Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench, Adrian Lester, Derek Jacobi and Lily James. Newley worked on the portraits for a year, and was granted unprecedented access backstage at The Garrick Theatre in order to capture the energy and dynamism of the actors in character. These were featured in a major solo exhibition 'Portraits in Character'[9] and charity gala auction at St Martin in the Fields in which Jeffrey Archer was the auctioneer.

He has captured on canvas some of the most iconic figures of stage and screen including Sir David Suchet, whose portrait was revealed at The Garrick Club in October 2016, and now hangs in the most esteemed spot in the Garrick bar.

In 2017 Newley completed his memoir 'Unaccompanied Minor', illustrated with 28 of his own paintings, an account of growing up within a famous but dysfunctional family as the son of two stars of Hollywood's golden age.

Newley's father was celebrated actor and Oscar-winning songwriter Anthony Newley, and his mother is actress Dame Joan Collins, with whom he appeared in his father's 1969 movie Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?. From an early age he loved the drama of the stage and transformative power of actors.

Newley works mainly in pastels and oils.[10]

He is divorced and has one daughter with his former wife, Angela Tassoni.[11][12]

References
  1. "Alexander Newley on Theatrical Portraiture". Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  2. "Billy Wilder Portrait, Private Collection".
  3. "Gore Vidal Portrait". Smithsonian Museum.
  4. "Christopher Reeve Portraits". Smithsonian Museum.
  5. "Artworks by Joan Collins's Son Stolen | artnet News". artnet News. 2016-11-15. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  6. "Dominick Dunne, Private Collection".
  7. "Nigel Hawthorne Portrait - as King George III". Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  8. ""Head of Lincoln"". Lincoln Heritage Museum, Illinois.
  9. "'Portraits in Character'". St Martin-in-the-Fields. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  10. "Alexander Newley's reproduction of Millais' portrait of Ruskin for the film Effie Gray". Windsor and Newton.
  11. Artist Alexander Newley: 'Art has given me everything', thej.com, 30 November 2017
  12. Joan Collins well placed to counsel son, express.co.uk, 25 March 2012
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