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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.

'Night studio No. 2', 2021

Cynthia Breusch

Darling Portrait Prize 2022 Finalist

'Night studio No. 2', 2021

Late one night in the studio I caught my reflection in the glass door. The overhead lighting exaggerated the shadows and highlights dramatising a moment of self-doubt; the studio became theatre. It reminded me of the remark John Cage made to Phillip Guston: 'When you start working everybody is in your studio – the past, your friends, your enemies, the art world, and above all your ideas – all are there. But as you continue painting they start leaving one by one, and you are left completely alone. Then, if you are lucky, even you leave.'

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

The Biologist (Bob Wong)
Self portrait and landscape with a dead horse
A moment in time
Triceratops

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 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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