Michael Jackson exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery to show how King of Pop influenced art

Michael Jackson's influence on contemporary art will be the subject of an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery next summer.

The King of Pop, who died at the age of 50 in 2009, inspired artists such as Andy Warhol, Grayson Perry and Isa Genzken.

Michael Jackson: On The Wall will open on August 28, a day before what would have been the singer’s 60th birthday. It is curated by the gallery’s director, Nicholas Cullinan, and includes essays from writers Zadie Smith and Margo Jefferson.

Mr Cullinan said the exhibition takes an “entirely new and quite radical approach” by exploring the cultural impact of a unique figure through contemporary art.

He added: “Despite coming from different generations and parts of the world and employing a range of media, all of the artists included are fascinated by what Jackson represented and what he invented.

“It is rare that there is something new to say about someone so famous, but here that is the case.”

Works from more than 40 artists including Isaac Julien, David LaChapelle and Kehinde Wiley will be shown.