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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.

Australian Love stories © Peter Brew-Bevan

Rachel Ward and Bryan Brown (detail), 2006 (printed 2020) © Peter Brew-Bevan

Australian Love stories

Family, friends, fanatics and foes (and everything in between!)

Previous exhibition
from Saturday 20 March until Sunday 1 August 2021

Reconnect and reflect with our new major exhibition, Australian Love Stories (in real life!) as we explore love, affection and connection in all its guises. From the enduring to the forbidden, romantic to platonic, the unrequited, obsessive, scandalous or creative. Swoon over more than 200 artworks from across photography, painting, works on paper, small sculpture AND an immersive glass installation.

Think Bob and Blanche, Kath and Kim, Jimmy and Jane Barnes, Nick and Susie Cave, Nell and Kylie Kwong. Think iconic artists like John Brack, Vincent Namatjira, Del Kathryn Barton, Davida Allen, Charles Blackman and more! See old favourites alongside loans from private and public collections and new works commissioned exclusively for the exhibition.

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Stan Grant and Tracey Holmes, 2020 Nic Walker
You are what is most beautiful about me: a self portrait with Kel and Arella, 2007 Del Kathryn Barton
Kylie and Nell, 2019 Adrian Cook
Judith Wright with Barbara Blackman
1 Stan Grant and Tracey Holmes, 2020 Nic Walker. Gift of the artist 2021. © Nic Walker. 2 You are what is most beautiful about me: a self portrait with Kel and Arella, 2007 Del Kathryn Barton. Courtesy of the artist. © Del Kathryn Barton. 3 Kylie and Nell, 2019 Adrian Cook. Courtesy of the artist and sitters. © Adrian Cook. 4 Judith Wright with Barbara Blackman, c. 1956 Charles Blackman OBE. © Charles Blackman/Copyright Agency, 2024, Currently on display.

Discover more than you expect in Canberra.

Explore a city full of passionate locals, hidden collections and unexpected gems. Drink in our warm welcomes with cool wines. Share our sense of adventure on countless mountains. Be rejuvenated by the surprise of a winery at the end of your hike, or by a whisky bar behind an unmarked door.

Dine in restaurants with five stars, then sleep under a million more. Rejuvenate in a spa amongst botanic gardens. Balloon at dawn and rise above Parliament House. Admire art collections belonging to Australia, then collect bottles and stories from one of 30 wineries within a 30-minute drive. Fall asleep next to pacing lions, or wake up in rooms where Prime Ministers have walked. Unearth creativity not just in the national attractions, but in suburban backyards and dotted around the city.

Get to know the real Canberra and plan your stay at visitcanberra.com.au

Australian Love Stories commercial. Video length: 30 seconds

See all the Australian Love Stories commercials on our youtube channel.

Exhibition walkthrough

Take a stroll through our Australian Love Stories exhibition and explore love in all its guises.

spaces between movement and stillness
spaces between movement and stillness
spaces between movement and stillness
spaces between movement and stillness

Harriet Schwarzrock

spaces between movement and stillness

Harriet Schwarzrock’s new work explores notions of emotional processes and their physical manifestations.

In the mirror: self portrait with Joy Hester (detail), 1939 Albert Tucker
In the mirror: self portrait with Joy Hester (detail), 1939 Albert Tucker
In the mirror: self portrait with Joy Hester (detail), 1939 Albert Tucker
In the mirror: self portrait with Joy Hester (detail), 1939 Albert Tucker

Australian Love Stories Online

The Australian Love Stories exhibition accompanies Australian Love Stories Online, the interactive amorous adventure launched in August 2020.

Related people

Sandra Bruce (curator)

Joanna Gilmour (curator)

EY Midnight Hotel Visit Canberra Robert Oatley Stripy Sock Prime 7 Capital Brewing Pop Inn Jamala Wildlife Lodge City Renewal Authority
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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.

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.

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