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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.

Glitter and colour on the streets of Erskineville, 2015

by John McRae

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2016 Finalist

Glitter and colour on the streets of Erskineville, 2015

A group of performing artists gathers in front of The Imperial Hotel, a venue where they have been working for years.  They display the same colour, exaggeration and panache normally reserved for the stage, but now they are standing on the street instead.  The Imperial Hotel, famous for its drag shows and appearance in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, is an iconic bastion of the LGBT community. It recently closed its doors, sadly having fallen victim to fewer crowds and harsher licensing laws. One wonders if such magnificent creatures will soon just be memories from a more vibrant past.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2016
(More information, View all 49 photos)

The Lino Hunter
Nobby Looking Back
Luis and Finn - two scruffy buddies
Self-portrait

Other NPPP photos from John McRae
(More information)

Portrait of a young Aussie, Matuse Peace, 2016 by John McRae
2017 Finalist
Gender not specified, 2010 by John McRae
2011 Finalist
Portrait of Margaret Olley in her Paddington studio, 2011 by John McRae
2012 People's Choice Award

Related information

Life Dancers, 2015 by Elizabeth Looker
Life Dancers, 2015 by Elizabeth Looker
Life Dancers, 2015 by Elizabeth Looker
Life Dancers, 2015 by Elizabeth Looker

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2016

Previous exhibition, 2016

The National Photographic Portrait Prize 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.
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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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