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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.

'How many days?' Dr Bronwyn Wells, 2021

Tamas Wells

Darling Portrait Prize 2022 Finalist

'How many days?' Dr Bronwyn Wells, 2021

In July 2020, almost 3000 people in nine high-rise public housing towers in Melbourne were detained without warning in their homes after a coronavirus outbreak. While images of the lockdown were shown around the country, medical staff - including Dr Bronwyn Wells - treated many vulnerable and elderly residents, in often chaotic circumstances. Here she is depicted at the end of the day in the hallway of the public housing estate. I wanted this picture to capture the heart and commitment of her and other health workers in these extraordinary times.

Darling Portrait Prize 2022
(More information, View all 39 paintings)

Understanding Tsering: Shadow and Light
A Dance to the Music of Time (Self portrait)

Related information

2020, 2021 Jaq Grantford
2020, 2021 Jaq Grantford
2020, 2021 Jaq Grantford
2020, 2021 Jaq Grantford

Darling Portrait Prize 2022

Previous exhibition, 2022

The Darling Portrait Prize is a biennial national prize for Australian portrait painting honouring the legacy of Mr L Gordon Darling AC CMG (1921-2015). The winner receives a cash prize of $75,000.
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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 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.

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