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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.

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Nyadol Nyuon OAM, 2023

Richard Butler Bowdon

Darling Portrait Prize 2024 Finalist

oil on canvas (frame: 170.2cm x 104.3cm depth 4.5cm)
Nyadol Nyuon OAM, 2023

Richard Butler Bowdon
born South Africa 1957, Australia from 1964

Nyadol Nyuon OAM 2023
oil on canvas

‘This portrait depicts Nyadol Nyuon, a community advocate for social justice, legal reform, multiculturalism and human rights. The portrait is the result of life sketches and photographs taken during a sitting at the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre in Melbourne where she is Director. I first heard about Nyadol while working as an English teacher delivering programs to assist South Sudanese refugees settle in Australia. She herself comes from a refugee background. It is my hope that this work distils and articulates Nyadol’s quiet strength, drive, professional acumen and considerable tenacity in the face of adversity.’

South-African born Richard Butler Bowdon is a Naarm/Melbourne-based artist, who has worked across painting, collage and installation. He describes his practice as the outcome of an ‘open and non-hierarchical curiosity in humanity’.


© The artist

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Darling Portrait Prize 2024

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Darling Portrait Prize 2024
(More information, View all 24 paintings)

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Darling Portrait Prize 2024

Current exhibition

from Saturday 22 June

The Darling Portrait Prize is a biennial national prize for Australian portrait painting honouring the legacy of Mr L Gordon Darling AC CMG.
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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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