The paintings in Elizabeth Peyton's new show at the Whitechapel Gallery are saturnine, stylised and very, very hip. Best known for
her "images of an image", Peyton uses photos of famous people - Liam Gallagher, Jarvis Cocker and Prince Harry are a few - to create moody, oil-based portraits, though she has never met many of her subjects. From Kurt Cobain (right) to Susan Sontag, all stare sullenly, tiredly out of the frame, sparking small, intimate moments that counteract the blandishments of celebrity culture. She is a sharp colourist and her androgynous pictures celebrate youth, fame and, above all, ennui.
Ends 20 September. Whitechapel Gallery, London E1. Details: www.whitechapelgallery.org
