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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

Sunday 1 January – Saturday 28 January 2023

Collection display in Gallery Five, 2019
Collection display in Gallery Five, 2019
Collection display in Gallery Five, 2019
Collection display in Gallery Five, 2019

Collection display galleries

Exhibition open every day

The collection display includes a wide selection of portraits that tell extraordinary stories of encounter, exploration, independence, individuality and achievement in Australia.

Maria
Maria
Maria
Maria

WHO ARE YOU

Australian portraiture

Exhibition closes 29 January

Featuring 130 works across painting, film, photography, screen printing, sculpture, and then some – it explores our inner worlds, outer selves, intimacy, isolation, celebrity and more.

Maria
Maria
Maria
Maria

WHO ARE YOU: Australian Portraiture tour

11:15am, Daily until Sun 29 Jan

Join us in the Gallery for this free 30-minute tour exploring the exciting new exhibition WHO ARE YOU: Australian Portraiture.

Bookings available
Children doing activities at a table in the gallery
Children doing activities at a table in the gallery
Children doing activities at a table in the gallery
Children doing activities at a table in the gallery

Family space

Who am I?

10:00am, Sat 17 Dec until Mon 30 Jan

We have free creative activities for families to enjoy together inspired by WHO ARE YOU: Australian Portraiture.

Salar Ayoubi
Salar Ayoubi
Salar Ayoubi
Salar Ayoubi

Drawn in

Salar Ayoubi

1:00pm, Mon 2 Jan

Draw while listening to live music performed by Salar Ayoubi. Salar is an Iranian oud player, playing Persian and Kurdish songs.

Portrait play
Portrait play
Portrait play
Portrait play

Portrait Play

My favourite things

10:30am, Tue 3 Jan until Fri 27 Jan

Join us in the Gallery this school holidays and explore portraits of people with the things they love.

Bookings required
Judith Wright with Barbara Blackman
Judith Wright with Barbara Blackman
Judith Wright with Barbara Blackman
Judith Wright with Barbara Blackman

Audio described tour

1:00pm, Wed 11 Jan

Join us in the Gallery as we explore WHO ARE YOU: Australian Portraiture with our tour for visitors who are blind or have low vision.

Bookings required
Do you want to meet your Grandma?
Do you want to meet your Grandma?
Do you want to meet your Grandma?
Do you want to meet your Grandma?

Story time

Do you want to meet your Grandma?

10:30am, 1:00pm, Mon 16 Jan

Listen to a lively reading of Do you want to meet your grandma? by author SV Middleby, followed by some creative craft activities.

Bookings required
Do you want to meet your Grandma?
Do you want to meet your Grandma?
Do you want to meet your Grandma?
Do you want to meet your Grandma?

Story time

Do you want to meet your Grandma?

10:30am, Tue 17 Jan
Live online

Listen online to a lively reading of Do you want to meet your grandma? by author SV Middleby, then create your own visual response with materials found around the house.

Bookings required
Dr Brown and Green Old Time Waltz
Dr Brown and Green Old Time Waltz
Dr Brown and Green Old Time Waltz
Dr Brown and Green Old Time Waltz

Little Faces

10:30am, Thu 19 Jan until Fri 20 Jan

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required
A person with long hair being blown by the wind, wearing a blue dress, while leaning over the edge of a boat on the water
A person with long hair being blown by the wind, wearing a blue dress, while leaning over the edge of a boat on the water
A person with long hair being blown by the wind, wearing a blue dress, while leaning over the edge of a boat on the water
A person with long hair being blown by the wind, wearing a blue dress, while leaning over the edge of a boat on the water

Culture Cruise

Presented by Australian Dance Party

10:30am, Sat 21 Jan

Travel via lake cruise on the stunning Lake Burley Griffin to Canberra's premiere cultural destinations: The National Portrait Gallery and The National Museum of Australia.

Bookings required
Creature from the Black Platoon starring Gary Foley 2011
Creature from the Black Platoon starring Gary Foley 2011
Creature from the Black Platoon starring Gary Foley 2011
Creature from the Black Platoon starring Gary Foley 2011

Workshop – TextaQueen

We don’t need another hero

1:00pm, Sun 22 Jan
Live online

Join us online for a vibrant workshop with artist TextaQueen! Discover more about their art practice before grabbing your own Textas and creating a movie-inspired poster about fighting oppression. Right on!

Bookings required
A person with long hair being blown by the wind, wearing a blue dress, while leaning over the edge of a boat on the water
A person with long hair being blown by the wind, wearing a blue dress, while leaning over the edge of a boat on the water
A person with long hair being blown by the wind, wearing a blue dress, while leaning over the edge of a boat on the water
A person with long hair being blown by the wind, wearing a blue dress, while leaning over the edge of a boat on the water

Culture Cruise

Presented by Australian Dance Party

10:30am, Sat 28 Jan

Travel via lake cruise on the stunning Lake Burley Griffin to Canberra's premiere cultural destinations: The National Portrait Gallery and The National Museum of Australia.

Bookings required

More events

Sunday 29 January – Saturday 25 February 2023
© National Portrait Gallery 2023
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

Phone +61 2 6102 7000
Fax +61 2 6102 7001
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