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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.

The Amazing Face

A 14-day dive into portraiture

This free introduction to portraiture features 14 modules designed to banish boredom, manifest mindfulness, and conjure creativity!

Nick Cave
Nick Cave
Nick Cave

1. Spelunking

The artist-sitter relationship
Professor Penny Sackett, astronomer and physicist
Professor Penny Sackett, astronomer and physicist
Professor Penny Sackett, astronomer and physicist

2. Penny drop

Keys to unlocking portraiture
Hera Roberts
Hera Roberts
Hera Roberts

3. To the Max

Photographic portraiture and lighting
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily

4. Sage advice

Background, setting and landscape
Joan Croll
Joan Croll
Joan Croll

5. Back in Brack

Thinking about pose
Dr Brown and Green Old Time Waltz
Dr Brown and Green Old Time Waltz
Dr Brown and Green Old Time Waltz

6. Speak for the trees

Narrative and storytelling
Peter Sculthorpe
Peter Sculthorpe
Peter Sculthorpe

7. The right note

Arrangement and composition
Lan Wang, Xini, Jiawei Shen and Billy
Lan Wang, Xini, Jiawei Shen and Billy
Lan Wang, Xini, Jiawei Shen and Billy

8. Now and Shen

Practising slow looking
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu

9. Strike a chord

Expression and mood
Marcia Langton
Marcia Langton
Marcia Langton

10. Symbol crash

Identity and representation
Dadang Christanto
Dadang Christanto
Dadang Christanto

11. From the (he)art

Personal history, culture and community
Quentin Bryce
Quentin Bryce
Quentin Bryce

12. Leading ladies

Presence and inspiration
Jessica Mauboy
Jessica Mauboy
Jessica Mauboy

13. Spirit level

Movement, soul, self
In the mirror: self portrait with Joy Hester
In the mirror: self portrait with Joy Hester
In the mirror: self portrait with Joy Hester

14. You-who

Self-portraiture

Related information

The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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The National Portrait Gallery building at night
The National Portrait Gallery building at night
The National Portrait Gallery building at night
The National Portrait Gallery building at night

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Visiting the Gallery
Visiting the Gallery
Visiting the Gallery
Visiting the Gallery

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© 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