Take a 30 minute tour of the Portrait Gallery exploring the collection and the building.

Australian portraiture of the mid-twentieth century was rich with the influence of European modernism, exemplified by the work of artists including Arthur Boyd, Judy Cassab and Clifton Pugh.

Spanning the 1880s to the 1930s, this collection display celebrates the innovations in art – and life – introduced by the generation of Australians who travelled to London and Paris for experience and inspiration in the decades either side of 1900.

In partnership with Big hART we are proud to present Gulgawarnigu - Thinking of something, someone, a national presentation of digital artworks created from Ngarluma country leramagadu (Roebourne), in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

The exhibition is selected from a national field of entries, reflecting the distinctive vision of Australia's aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects.

We all have places where we feel at ease, a sense of belonging, of ownership, of relaxation, of self. Given the opportunity, portraitists love to place their sitters in an environment where they are most at home.

Encompassing works created over the past 80 years, this selection of portraits from the Gallery’s collection celebrates inventiveness and diversity in approaches to self portraiture.

The selection of works in Frocked up richly demonstrates the interconnectedness of costume and portraiture – and the many ways in which artists have employed the representation of dress to powerful, insightful effect.

This major exhibition celebrates 100 years of Australia’s oldest and most-loved portrait award and reflects upon the changing face of our nation.

Join us for a 45-minute tour of Archie 100: A Century of the Archibald Prize. Hear more about the history of the century-old prize and uncover the stories of some famous faces and local heroes.

Bring us and Archie 100: A Century of the Archibald Prize to your classroom with this virtual excursion.

Bring us and Archie 100: A Century of the Archibald Prize to your classroom with this virtual excursion.

Bring us and Archie 100: A Century of the Archibald Prize to your classroom with this virtual excursion.

Join us for a screening of The Giants, and hear environmentalist Bob Brown’s story, woven through the extraordinary life cycle of Australia’s giant trees.

Throw out your oil paints, banish your watercolours and show us what you’re really made of! This week, we’re moving beyond the canvas to meet some ladies who use unusual materials.

Do we have a treat for the smaller humans in your life! Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Do we have a treat for the smaller humans in your life! Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bring us and Archie 100: A Century of the Archibald Prize to your classroom with this virtual excursion.

Do we have a treat for the smaller humans in your life! Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Hosted by our friends at The Curatoreum, we're excited to be hosting more than 60 Australian makers and designers to help put a spotlight on local art, craftsmanship and creativity.

Hosted by our friends at The Curatoreum, we're excited to be hosting more than 60 Australian makers and designers to help put a spotlight on local art, craftsmanship and creativity.

Hosted by our friends at The Curatoreum, we're excited to be hosting more than 60 Australian makers and designers to help put a spotlight on local art, craftsmanship and creativity.

Grab your BFF and hang out with us as we take a look at artworks exploring friendship.

Join us as we explore the collection and discover artworks with audio descriptions for visitors who are blind or have low vision.

Join local jazz vocal group Rhythm Syndicate in the Gallery as they take you on a musical journey to get you in the mood for the festive season.

Join us for a screening of Namatjira Project, which tells the story of the Namatjira family and their quest to regain copyright to Albert Namatjira’s iconic artwork.

Join three of our Access and Learning team for a lively portrait discussion where they’ve chosen an artwork to surprise each other.

For our final Spotlight of the year, we welcome Callum Tolhurst-Close, Manager, Foundation & Private Giving, who will be looking at the portrait of Peter Sculthorpe by Eric Smith.

Join us with Maggie Beer AO, cook restaurateur and businesswoman and Del Kathryn Barton, artist, in celebration of the National Portrait Gallery's most recent commissioned portrait, Maggie, 2023 by Del Kathryn Barton.

Drop in to the family space these school holidays for free creative activities to enjoy together.

Take a 30 minute tour of the Portrait Gallery exploring the collection and the building.

Join our Senior Curator Joanna Gilmour as she explores the life of celebrated portraitist George Lambert. You’ll be glad(ioli) you did.