Thursday 17 April – Sunday 20 April 2025
Marri Ngarr artist Ryan Presley’s major installation greets you as you arrive at the Gallery, in a work that invites conversations about the ongoing legacies of colonisation.
Discover 50 colonial-era collection works alongside 50 works by contemporary artist Joan Ross. With wit and wry critique, Ross will make you consider the artist’s role in determining which stories are told, about who and why.
Tracey’s Moffat’s complete Some Lads series powerfully and playfully depicts Russell Page, Larrakia man Gary Lang, Muruwari man Matthew Doyle, and Graham Blanco, a descendant of the Mer (Murray Island) people.
A most beautiful experiment responds to Congolese photographer Jean Depara’s documentation of Kinshara’s nightlife in the 1960s.
Drawn from the National Portrait Gallery collection, this salon-style hang references the lavish 18th- and 19th-century European salons where paintings were hung floor-to-ceiling.
Experience the vibrant flowers and foliage in our Western Courtyard through drawing and observation.
Learn about the architecture of the building before journeying through the Gallery to hear about the lives and legacies of the portrait subjects and the artistic techniques used to tell their stories.
Bookings requiredJoin a short introductory tour of the National Portrait Gallery and discover a few key portraits.
Bookings availableDrop into the Gallery for free creative activities inspired by the flora and fauna featured in the vibrant exhibition, Joan Ross: Those trees came back to me in my dreams.
Gallery Three features major new acquisitions, collection highlights and favourites.
Join us for a new iteration of Drawn in this autumn. The Composer’s Canvas is a series of drawing sessions once a month at the Gallery.
We offer a free, tailor-made program for small groups of people living with dementia and their friends, families or carers.
Bookings requiredBrowse the full list of portraits from the collection that are on view now.
A free exhibition of over 100 works by contemporary Australian artist Thom Roberts. Step into his world and experience bold paintings, animation and installation works where people and places intertwine.
Drop into the Gallery any time for free creative activities inspired by artist Thom Roberts and his exhibition, The Immersive World of Thom Roberts.
Join us for Portrait Play these school holidays as we explore portraits and music. Come and meet the people that live on our walls, discover musical instruments hidden in the portraits and get creative on your journey through the galleries.
Bookings requiredListen to the soulful vocals of Ava Martina blended with electric guitar while drawing. Ava will perform a mix of originals and covers spanning generations of artists.
Visit us, learn with us, support us or work with us! Here’s a range of information about planning your visit, our history and more!
We depend on your support to keep creating our programs, exhibitions, publications and building the amazing portrait collection!
Information on location, accessibility and amenities.