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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.

Ralph Heimans

Portraiture. Power. Influence.

Previous exhibition
from Friday 15 March until Monday 27 May 2024
HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, 2006 Ralph Heimans AM
HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, 2006 Ralph Heimans AM. The Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle. © Ralph Heimans

Ralph Heimans: Portraiture. Power. Influence. is the first major exhibition of the Sydney-born artist’s work in his home country. Heimans is an internationally sought-after portraitist known for his meticulously realised paintings that revitalise a centuries-old tradition and provide insights into the lives of the prominent and powerful. His work is defined by his bold approach to geometry, luminosity, symbolism and draughtsmanship.

The exhibition will feature some of the most significant portraits in the artist’s career to date, from early major works such as his painting of HM Queen Mary of Denmark through to his most recent paintings. Commissioned paintings will offer a behind-the-curtain peek into the lives of sitters including King Charles III, Dame Judi Dench and Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO. A number of studies that explore Heimans’ complex process and technique will accompany the large-scale portraits.

The exhibition will present portraits loaned from private and public collections in Australia and overseas, some of which have never been exhibited publicly in Australia.

Presented exclusively at the National Portrait Gallery from March to May 2024.

Related people

Ralph Heimans AM

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

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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