An exhibition at Saatchi gallery plans to explore the importance of selfies as an art form

From Selfie to Self-Expression will feature self-portraits from artists including Vincent van Gogh, Tracey Emin, Rembrandt, Velazquez, June Calypso and Kutluğ Ataman.

More modern examples include a selfie featuring the former US president Barack Obama and former prime minister David Cameron, and the moment the actor Benedict Cumberbatch “photobombed” a press shot at the Academy Awards.

Nigel Hurst, chief executive officer at the gallery, described the selfie as an example of a shift in society using technology as a means of self-expression.

He said: “In many ways, the selfie represents the epitome of contemporary culture’s transition into a highly digitalised and technologically advanced age as mobile phone technology has caught up with the camera.

“The exhibition will present a compelling insight into the history and creative potential of the selfie.”

As part of the project, Saatchi is collaborating with technology company Huawei to commission 10 young British photographers to make their own creative contributions.

It will also include the launch of the #SaatchieSelfie competition, asking people around the world to post their most interesting selfies for a chance to be featured in the exhibition.

The winner will be picked out by a panel of artists and receive a Huawei phone as well as a “priceless photographic experience” yet to be announced.

Glory Zhang, of Huawei, said: “The smartphone has become a tool of artistic expression. The selfie generation is becoming the self-expression generation as each of us seeks to explore and share our inner creativity through the one artistic tool to which we all have access: the smartphone.”

• From Selfie to Self-Expression runs 31 March-30 May and the competition runs 23 January-19 March