Images: The work of art: In Galleries Eight and Nine , National Portrait Gallery

In Galleries Eight and Nine

It takes a village to raise a creative! Get an insight into the often-unseen work and supporters needed for the arts to thrive. The work of art documents the creative process, evoke states of creativity and inspiration, and shows us clues about the subject’s own work from the way artists portray them.

Portraits on display

Related information

Virtual Highlight Tour

Exhibition Outro: John Brack x Noel McKenna

12:30pm, Tue 7 Jul

Join Visitor Experience Coordinator, Marina, for a final virtual tour of John Brack x Noel McKenna: A face in the mirror live from inside the exhibition.

Virtual Highlight Tour

The Art of Looking

12:30pm, Tue 14 Jul – Tue 11 Aug

In this special winter series, join our Engagement and Experience team online to develop deeper connections with art.

Adventures in Portraiture!

Visual Arts (lower primary)

9:15am, Tue 21 Jul

Join us for an interactive and engaging program designed to equip your students with the confidence and tools to explore and interpret portraits.

© National Portrait Gallery 2026
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