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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.

Carol Duncan, Redfern, 1975

Carol Jerrems

gelatin silver photograph on paper (image: 13.4cm x 19.9cm. sheet: 20.3cm x 25.4cm. frame: 43.2cm x 58.5cm)

Jerrems photographed many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives and activists and was thought to be working on a book focusing on First Nations subjects before she passed away. This project, which only reached early planning stages, was encouraged by poet and activist Oodgeroo Noonuccal, whose portrait Jerrems made for A book about Australian women.

As Arrernte writer Celeste Liddle notes, ‘Carol Jerrems captured a number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander figures and activists, together with our allies, in ways we have not typically seen. Many times, the portraits appear candid, relaxed, joyful and playful, yet nearly every person Jerrems photographed was, in some way, shape or form, engaging in acts of resistance.’

National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. Gift of Mrs Joy Jerrems 1981.
© The Estate of Carol Jerrems

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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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