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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 2 April – Sunday 30 April 2023

Self portrait
Self portrait
Self portrait
Self portrait

The work of art

In Galleries Eight and Nine

Exhibition closes 23 May

It takes a village to raise a creative! Get an insight into the often-unseen work and supporters needed for the arts to thrive. The work of art documents the creative process, evoke states of creativity and inspiration, and shows us clues about the subject’s own work from the way artists portray them.

Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman

At ease

In Gallery One

Exhibition closes 27 August

Enjoy, sit back, and relax with some of our favourites from the Gallery’s collection, where they find themselves expertly – and comfortably – captured by their artists.

Portrait23: Identity logo
Portrait23: Identity logo
Portrait23: Identity logo
Portrait23: Identity logo

Portrait23: Identity

Exhibition closes 18 June

Portraiture. Not as you know it. We invite you to stretch, push, resist and transcend portraiture’s conventional constraints.

Four works from Happy Australian, 2022 Vipoo Srivilasa
Four works from Happy Australian, 2022 Vipoo Srivilasa
Four works from Happy Australian, 2022 Vipoo Srivilasa
Four works from Happy Australian, 2022 Vipoo Srivilasa

Portrait 23: Identity tour

11:15am, Fri 10 Mar until Fri 16 Jun

Join us in the Gallery for a free 30-minute tour of Portrait23: Identity, as we stretch, push and transcend portraiture’s conventional constraints.

Bookings available
Play on (A portrait of Neale Daniher)
Play on (A portrait of Neale Daniher)
Play on (A portrait of Neale Daniher)
Play on (A portrait of Neale Daniher)

Collection Highlights Tour

2:15pm, Daily until Sun 31 Dec

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

Bookings available
Twelve portraits of finalists for the Little Darlings Youth Portrait Prize 2023
Twelve portraits of finalists for the Little Darlings Youth Portrait Prize 2023
Twelve portraits of finalists for the Little Darlings Youth Portrait Prize 2023
Twelve portraits of finalists for the Little Darlings Youth Portrait Prize 2023

Little Darlings Youth Portrait Prize 2023

Exhibition closes 21 May

Little Darlings is for primary and secondary students, with four separate categories across Kindergarten to Year 12. Responding to the theme ‘identity’, students painted, drew, photographed, printed or combined all of these to make their portrait.

Marea Gazzard
Marea Gazzard
Marea Gazzard
Marea Gazzard

The Iconoclasts

In Gallery Three

Exhibition open every day

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.

Mary Chomley
Mary Chomley
Mary Chomley
Mary Chomley

The Cosmopolitans

In Gallery Two

Exhibition closes 31 March

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.

Yarrenyty Arltere Artists installation
Yarrenyty Arltere Artists installation
Yarrenyty Arltere Artists installation
Yarrenyty Arltere Artists installation

Audio described tour

1:00pm, Mon 3 Apr

Join us in the Gallery as we explore Portrait23: Identity with audio descriptions for visitors who are blind or have low vision.

Bookings required
Florence Broadhurst
Florence Broadhurst
Florence Broadhurst
Florence Broadhurst

Virtual Highlights Tour

Inside Voices

12:30pm, Tue 4 Apr
Live online

Put down the drop sheet and join us from your living room, as we dive deep into the minds behind loud colours, bold patterns and bright interiors.

Bookings required
Dr Joseph Brown with Two Typists
Dr Joseph Brown with Two Typists
Dr Joseph Brown with Two Typists
Dr Joseph Brown with Two Typists

April Spotlight Series

10:15am, Wed 5 Apr

We're back on again in April for the next of our Spotlight Series! This time Karena – our Exhibitions Manager – will be taking a look at Dr Joseph Brown with Two Typists by Noel McKenna.

Bookings required
A boy drawing on paper with a pencil
A boy drawing on paper with a pencil
A boy drawing on paper with a pencil
A boy drawing on paper with a pencil

Art Cart

10:00am, Fri 7 Apr until Sun 23 Apr

Our popular art cart is back for the school holidays! Ponder your place in the world and reflect on your own identity by making your own ‘me tree’.

Bella Groove
Bella Groove
Bella Groove
Bella Groove

Drawn in

Bella Groove

1:00pm, Sun 9 Apr

Draw while listening to Bella Groove as they play an assortment of originals alongside familiar jazz and blues tunes.

Portrait play
Portrait play
Portrait play
Portrait play

Portrait Play

10:30am, Tue 11 Apr until Fri 14 Apr

Explore portraits through drawing and creative activity in the galleries.

Bookings required
Professor Germaine Greer
Professor Germaine Greer
Professor Germaine Greer
Professor Germaine Greer

Virtual Highlights Tour

Storm in a Teacup

12:30pm, Tue 11 Apr
Live online

What’s all the fuss about? Grab a cuppa and join us as we look at three sitters in our collection who have, unwittingly or deliberately, created storms in teacups.

Bookings required
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily

Slow art day

2:00pm, Sat 15 Apr

Rush in, slow down and take a looong look at a few portraits, then meet to share your thoughts and observations.

Bookings required
Dulcie Sharpe and Rhonda Sharpe in a room with a brown tile floor, next to a wooden table with soft animal sculptures
Dulcie Sharpe and Rhonda Sharpe in a room with a brown tile floor, next to a wooden table with soft animal sculptures
Dulcie Sharpe and Rhonda Sharpe in a room with a brown tile floor, next to a wooden table with soft animal sculptures
Dulcie Sharpe and Rhonda Sharpe in a room with a brown tile floor, next to a wooden table with soft animal sculptures

Colourful creatures workshop

11:30am, Sun 16 Apr

Join acclaimed Yarrenyty Arltere Artists who live and work in Mparntwe/Alice Springs in a creative walk-up sewing workshop.

Portrait play
Portrait play
Portrait play
Portrait play

Portrait Play

10:30am, Mon 17 Apr until Fri 21 Apr

Explore portraits through drawing and creative activity in the galleries.

Bookings required
Heritage Festival 2023
Heritage Festival 2023
Heritage Festival 2023
Heritage Festival 2023

Sharing stories of sharp edges and smooth finishes

11:15am, Mon 17 Apr until Fri 21 Apr

Awaken a sense of place and belonging and explore the National Portrait Gallery building and discover the award-winning design elements and cultural significance.

Bookings available
Self Portrait #1
Self Portrait #1
Self Portrait #1
Self Portrait #1

Virtual Highlights Tour

Not just a face

12:30pm, Tue 18 Apr
Live online

Grab your rucksack and join our Collection Administrator, Renee Joyce to explore the role of place in providing portraiture’s context and narrative.

Bookings required
Fashionista by Maxine Beneba Clarke
Fashionista by Maxine Beneba Clarke
Fashionista by Maxine Beneba Clarke
Fashionista by Maxine Beneba Clarke

Story time - Fashionista

Reading with author, Maxine Beneba Clarke

10:30am, Wed 19 Apr

Join Maxine Beneba Clarke as she reads her book Fashionista, leads us in craft activities and finishes in a flurry with a fashion parade finale!

Bookings required
Fashionista by Maxine Beneba Clarke
Fashionista by Maxine Beneba Clarke
Fashionista by Maxine Beneba Clarke
Fashionista by Maxine Beneba Clarke

Story time - Fashionista

Reading with author, Maxine Beneba Clarke

2:00pm, Wed 19 Apr
Live online

Calling all fashionistas, fashion-resisters, fun lovers, fun makers and cool creators! Join Maxine Beneba Clarke as she reads her book Fashionista, leads us in craft activities and finishes in a flurry with a fashion face-off finale!

Bookings required
Visitors in Portrait23: Identity featuring works by Atong Atem, Dylan Mooney and Deborah Kelly.
Visitors in Portrait23: Identity featuring works by Atong Atem, Dylan Mooney and Deborah Kelly.
Visitors in Portrait23: Identity featuring works by Atong Atem, Dylan Mooney and Deborah Kelly.
Visitors in Portrait23: Identity featuring works by Atong Atem, Dylan Mooney and Deborah Kelly.

Relaxed mornings

9:00am, Sun 23 Apr

Explore our special exhibition Portrait23: Identity and the main collection before our usual opening hours. We’ll have low sensory spaces, quiet areas and a creative activity for families to enjoy together.

Bookings required
The family
The family
The family
The family

Little Faces

10:30am, Wed 26 Apr until Thu 27 Apr

This autumn, join a Learning Facilitator to look at the portrait “The Family” by Charles Blackman to explore ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­colour, patterns and faces through movement, singing and crafty play.

Bookings required
Stephen Page, 2021 Daniel Boud
Stephen Page, 2021 Daniel Boud
Stephen Page, 2021 Daniel Boud
Stephen Page, 2021 Daniel Boud

Andrew Sayers Memorial Lecture – CLANSHIP

Stephen Page AO, former Artistic Director of Bangarra

6:00pm, Thu 27 Apr

This year’s lecture will be delivered by Stephen Page AO, former Artistic Director of Bangarra Dance Theatre and descendent of the Ngugi/Nunukul people of the Quandamooka Nation and the Munaldjali clan of the Yugambeh Nation from South East Queensland.

Bookings required
The family
The family
The family
The family

Little Faces

9:30am, Fri 28 Apr

This autumn, join a Learning Facilitator to look at the portrait “The Family” by Charles Blackman to explore ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­colour, patterns and faces through movement, singing and crafty play.

Bookings required

More events

Monday 1 May – Monday 29 May 2023
© National Portrait Gallery 2023
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