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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.

Head, hand, heart

An extensive selection of portraits by John Brack were on display at the National Portrait Gallery in late 2007.

More information on Head, hand, heart

Selected images

7 images
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Portrait of a Man (Fred Williams), 1958
Portrait of a Man (Fred Williams), 1958
Portrait of Dr Ursula Hoff, 1985
Portrait of Dr Ursula Hoff, 1985
Joan Croll
Joan Croll, 1976 John Brack. © Helen Brack
Self-portrait, 1955
Self-portrait, 1955
Portrait of Tam Purves
Portrait of Tam Purves, 1958 John Brack. © Helen Brack
Study for portrait of Tam Purves, 1958
Study for portrait of Tam Purves, 1958
Inside and outside, 1972
Inside and outside, 1972
7 images
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Related information

Self portrait
Self portrait
Self portrait
Self portrait

John Brack Portraits

Previous exhibition, 2007

The exhibition includes such striking works as Portrait of Fred Williams, and Barry Humphries in the character of Edna Everage, the enigmatic Portrait of Hal Hattam, a group of revealing self portraits including the mysterious Inside and Outside, as well as endearing portraits of the artist's children.
Portrait of Tam Purves
Portrait of Tam Purves
Portrait of Tam Purves
Portrait of Tam Purves

Bonfire of the vanities

Magazine article by Stuart Purves, 2016

Australian Galleries Director Stuart Purves tells the story of two portraits by John Brack.
Self portrait 1955
Self portrait 1955
Self portrait 1955
Self portrait 1955

Portrait of the artist as a young man

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2010

Dr Sarah Engledow explores the early life and career of John Brack.
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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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