© National Portrait Gallery 2025
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196
“This Nangala (turtle) is special because she was looking for water for her grandson, the crocodile. She had the crocodile wrapped in paperbark and carried him all the way to my country looking for water, with a stick in the other hand. They bin travel south and she busted the ground (with her stick) and they found water.”
Nangala is also Shirley’s daughter’s skin, and it can take on many forms such as the brolga, sandfrog or turtle. They are all the Nangalas, and they are all female.
This exhibition features new works from ten women artists reinterpreting and reimagining elements of Australian history, enriching the contemporary narrative around Australia’s history and biography, reflecting the tradition of storytelling in our country.
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!
We depend on your support to keep creating our programs, exhibitions, publications and building the amazing portrait collection!
