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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.

Electric!

Portraits that pop!

Previous exhibition
from Tuesday 11 September 2018 until Monday 22 April 2019
Creatures of Leisure series (David 'Bird' Twohill)
Creatures of Leisure series (David 'Bird' Twohill), 1982 Paul Worstead. © Paul Worstead

Celebrate the Gallery’s 20th birthday summer with Electric! Portraits that pop! The collection exhibition features a mix of bright, bold and colourful paintings, prints and photographs, and buoyant video portraits.

40 portraits
view all

Sir Robert May AC KT
Christine Manfield
Acacius (Stigmata) - Tony Carden
Nicole Kidman
Natalie Imbruglia
Roslyn
1 Sir Robert May AC KT, 1999 Polly Borland. © Polly Borland. 2 Christine Manfield, 1997 Selina Snow. © Selina Snow. 3 Acacius (Stigmata) - Tony Carden, 1991 AñA Wojak. © AñA Wojak. 4 Nicole Kidman, c. 1980 Lewis Morley. © Lewis Morley Archive LLC. 5 Natalie Imbruglia, 1999 Polly Borland. © Polly Borland. 6 Roslyn, 2016 Sally Ross. © Sally Ross.

Related people

Dr Christopher Chapman (curator)

Related information

Miles and Arkie, 2015 by Clint Peloso
Miles and Arkie, 2015 by Clint Peloso
Miles and Arkie, 2015 by Clint Peloso
Miles and Arkie, 2015 by Clint Peloso

Shop Talk

Magazine article by Stephen Phillips, 2016

Angus and the arbiters talk (photo) shop for the National Photographic Portrait Prize.
Layne Beachley
Layne Beachley
Layne Beachley
Layne Beachley

Collection: Icons

Volume One

Previous exhibition, 2018

When a portrait communicates determination and individuality as boldly as these do, it has the potential to become an iconic image. For the Gallery’s 20th birthday this display brings together a group contemporary photographic portraits of inspiring women and men.
Maryan, 2010 by Rod McNicol
Maryan, 2010 by Rod McNicol
Maryan, 2010 by Rod McNicol
Maryan, 2010 by Rod McNicol

Life and time

Portraits by Rod McNicol

Previous exhibition, 2015

Australian photographer Rod McNicol has consistently analysed the passing of time through the evidence of the photographic portrait. At once confronting and tender, McNicol’s portrait photographs are bold and intimate. 
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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.

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