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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.

The Priestess, 2022

Cindy Kavanagh

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2023 Finalist

giclée print on paper (frame: 100cm x 100cm depth 6cm)
The Priestess, 2022

The Priestess – a celebration of the beauty and resilience of ageing freed from social pre-conceptions of what a woman should look like, of what role she 'should' play.

Here Floria Tosca's beloved Australian wildflowers are strap-wrapped to her head. They represent the blooming of her life's journey and the growth that comes with each passing year. The straps echo the traditional binding of burdens – as well as holding her to what she loves – the paradox within womanhood.

This portrait asks us to see Floria as she would like to be seen and celebrates the beauty and empowerment inherent in that.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2023
(More information, View all 47 photos)

Derek
Shirley

Related information

Ruby (left view), 2022 Shea Kirk
Ruby (left view), 2022 Shea Kirk
Ruby (left view), 2022 Shea Kirk
Ruby (left view), 2022 Shea Kirk

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2023

Previous exhibition, 2023

The exhibition is selected from a national field of entries, reflecting the distinctive vision of Australia's aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
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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The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency