British Museum displays portrait of Bayeux Tapestry sponsor Igor Tulchinsky

The British Museum has unveiled a portrait of billionaire Igor Tulchinsky as part of its Bayeux Tapestry exhibition. Tulchinsky, the founder and CEO of the quantitative investment firm WorldQuant, is the primary sponsor of the exhibition, having reportedly contributed £5 million toward production costs.

The portrait was created by British artist Jonathan Yeo. While the museum has declined to disclose the cost of the commission or the specific details of how the portrait was commissioned, reports suggest the artwork was not part of the formal sponsorship agreement. Yeo stated he felt “honoured that this portrait was commissioned to mark Igor Tulchinsky’s sponsorship” and noted it will remain on display for the duration of the exhibition, which runs through July 11, 2027.

The inclusion of the portrait has drawn scrutiny regarding the visibility of the funding relationship and Tulchinsky’s ties to the Israel Defense Forces. Tulchinsky, a US-based entrepreneur with an estimated net worth of $1.7 billion, also recently launched WorldQuant Genesis, a venture capital operation in Israel.