Skip to main content
Menu
What's on Prizes The Portraits Watch
The Gallery Governance & Board Circle of Friends
Learn Access Search the website
close close
What's on The Portraits The Gallery Learn Watch More O

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.

Untitled, 2009

by Tegan Russell

Untitled, 2009

Year 11, Figtree High School NSW
mixed media 
99.0 x 69.5 cm
on display at the National Portrait Gallery

We move through life blind. Do we really know who we are? How do we define ourselves? We may look to our possessions, our image, our likes or dislikes, or to others in an attempt to know ourselves, but what is left when this has gone? In my artwork I have captured the essence of myself working through blind contours, intuitively, in response to my own reflection. It is based on the elimination of thought and expectation in order to create an artwork that is a reflection of an essence, created completely in the moment.

Headspace 9

Headspace 9
(More information, View all 34 images)

Related information

Rose’s afternoon delight, 2009 by Rose Hammer
Rose’s afternoon delight, 2009 by Rose Hammer
Rose’s afternoon delight, 2009 by Rose Hammer
Rose’s afternoon delight, 2009 by Rose Hammer

Headspace 9

Self Identities - Making Connections

Previous exhibition, 2009

Headspace 9 is an exhibition of outstanding student self portraits (paintings, drawings, printmaking, photography and media arts) by Year 10, 11 and 12 school students that will engage a national audience.
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

The Gallery

Visit us, learn with us, support us or work with us! Here’s a range of information about planning your visit, our history and more!
The National Portrait Gallery building at night
The National Portrait Gallery building at night
The National Portrait Gallery building at night
The National Portrait Gallery building at night

Support your Portrait Gallery

We depend on your support to keep creating our programs, exhibitions, publications and building the amazing portrait collection!
Home Contact Media Privacy statement User agreement Social media and community guidelines
© National Portrait Gallery 2025
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
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