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.
National Photographic Portrait Prize 2009 Finalist
Humphrey McQueen was born in Brisbane and for the past 40 years has been a self-employed writer, historian, critic, protestor and cultural commentator. Humphrey is the author of 19 books that cover topics as diverse as history, the media, politics, Coca-Cola & capitalism and the visual arts. He has written for virtually every newspaper in Australia and was a regular contributor to the 'Bulletin'. Humphrey's two classic books of Australian history, 'A New Britannia' and 'Social Sketches of Australia' were exciting, challenging and ground-breaking works. Re-issued in 2004, they conveyed something of the complexity, subtlety and uniqueness of Australian history and society. His latest work is 'A Framework of Flesh', the history of builder's labourers and their unions. An informed, passionate and committed writer Humphrey McQueen has maintained a distinct voice in the narrative and analysis of Australian life, work and art. In his work he has consistently demonstrated a capacity to conjure the past while engaging with the present.
In its second year at the National Portrait Gallery, and for the first time touring to other venues, the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2009 continues to present surprising perspectives on the nature of contemporary portrait photography.
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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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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