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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

What's on

Monday 21 April – Sunday 27 April 2025

Paradise won, 2024 Ryan Presley
Paradise won, 2024 Ryan Presley
Paradise won, 2024 Ryan Presley
Paradise won, 2024 Ryan Presley

Ryan Presley: Paradise won

On view until May 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.

Those trees came back to me in my dreams
Those trees came back to me in my dreams
Those trees came back to me in my dreams
Those trees came back to me in my dreams

Joan Ross

Those trees came back to me in my dreams

Exhibition closes 27 April

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.

Some lads #1
Some lads #1
Some lads #1
Some lads #1

Some Lads

In Gallery Four

Open every day

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 (still from video), 2024 wani toaishara
a most beautiful experiment (still from video), 2024 wani toaishara
a most beautiful experiment (still from video), 2024 wani toaishara
a most beautiful experiment (still from video), 2024 wani toaishara

wani toaishara: a most beautiful experiment

In Gallery Four

Open every day

A most beautiful experiment responds to Congolese photographer Jean Depara’s documentation of Kinshara’s nightlife in the 1960s.

Lowitja O'Donoghue
Lowitja O'Donoghue
Lowitja O'Donoghue
Lowitja O'Donoghue

Gallery One

Open every day

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.

Nick Cave
Nick Cave
Nick Cave
Nick Cave

Gallery Two

Open every day
Drawing in the Western Courtyard
Drawing in the Western Courtyard
Drawing in the Western Courtyard
Drawing in the Western Courtyard

Drop in drawing

Daily from Friday 29 November

Experience the vibrant flowers and foliage in our Western Courtyard through drawing and observation.

Visitors in front of where will the story take us, 2002-2024 (printed 2024) (detail) Katrin Koenning
Visitors in front of where will the story take us, 2002-2024 (printed 2024) (detail) Katrin Koenning
Visitors in front of where will the story take us, 2002-2024 (printed 2024) (detail) Katrin Koenning
Visitors in front of where will the story take us, 2002-2024 (printed 2024) (detail) Katrin Koenning

Guided Tour

The art of portraiture

11:00am, Daily until Sat 31 May

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 required
Visitors in front of The Quickening, 2022 (detail) Ying Ang
Visitors in front of The Quickening, 2022 (detail) Ying Ang
Visitors in front of The Quickening, 2022 (detail) Ying Ang
Visitors in front of The Quickening, 2022 (detail) Ying Ang

Introduction tour

Welcome highlights

2:00pm, Daily until Sat 31 May

Join a short introductory tour of the National Portrait Gallery and discover a few key portraits.

Bookings available
Children drawing
Children drawing
Children drawing
Children drawing

Art Cart

Joan Ross

10:00am, Daily until Sun 27 Apr

Drop 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.

Albert and Vincent
Albert and Vincent
Albert and Vincent
Albert and Vincent

Gallery Three

Exhibition closes 22 June

Gallery Three features major new acquisitions, collection highlights and favourites.

Drawing in the Gallery
Drawing in the Gallery
Drawing in the Gallery
Drawing in the Gallery

Drawn In

The Composer's Canvas

Selected Sundays in Autumn

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.

People viewing portraits in Gallery One
People viewing portraits in Gallery One
People viewing portraits in Gallery One
People viewing portraits in Gallery One

Portraits together

For people living with dementia

10:30 – 11:30am, Second Monday of the month

We offer a free, tailor-made program for small groups of people living with dementia and their friends, families or carers.

Bookings required
Deborah Mailman
Deborah Mailman
Deborah Mailman
Deborah Mailman

The National Portrait Gallery Collection

Currently on view

Browse the full list of portraits from the collection that are on view now.

Thom Roberts with Burt the Oscar Train 2017 and cushion cover
Thom Roberts with Burt the Oscar Train 2017 and cushion cover
Thom Roberts with Burt the Oscar Train 2017 and cushion cover
Thom Roberts with Burt the Oscar Train 2017 and cushion cover

The Immersive World of Thom Roberts

Exhibition closes 20 July

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.

Art cart drawing activities for The Immersive World of Thom Roberts
Art cart drawing activities for The Immersive World of Thom Roberts
Art cart drawing activities for The Immersive World of Thom Roberts
Art cart drawing activities for The Immersive World of Thom Roberts

Art cart

Thom Roberts

10:00am, Sat 12 Apr until Sun 20 Jul

Drop into the Gallery any time for free creative activities inspired by artist Thom Roberts and his exhibition, The Immersive World of Thom Roberts.

A mother and daughter participating in Portrait Play
A mother and daughter participating in Portrait Play
A mother and daughter participating in Portrait Play
A mother and daughter participating in Portrait Play

Portrait Play

Face the music

11:00am, Tue 22 Apr until Thu 24 Apr

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 required
Relaxed Afternoons in the Gallery
Relaxed Afternoons in the Gallery
Relaxed Afternoons in the Gallery
Relaxed Afternoons in the Gallery

Relaxed afternoon

3:00pm, Wed 23 Apr

Explore the Gallery at a quiet time of day. We welcome anyone of any age who would benefit from a more relaxed gallery experience.

More events

Monday 28 April – Sunday 4 May 2025
© National Portrait Gallery 2025
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency