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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.

The existential lens

Stephen Zagala discusses Richard Avedon’s work from an Australian perspective.

More information on The existential lens

Selected images

6 images
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Chet Baker, singer, New York City, January 16, 1986 by Richard Avedon
Chet Baker, singer, New York City, January 16, 1986 by Richard Avedon
Mick Dodson
Mick Dodson, 2010 Ricky Maynard. © Ricky Maynard
Allen Ginsberg's family: Hannah (Honey) Litzby, aunt: Leo Litzby, uncle; Abe Ginsberg, uncle; Ann Ginsberg, aunt; Louis Ginsber, father; Eugeno Brooks, brother; Allen Ginsberg, poet; Anne Brooks, niece; Peter Brooks, nephew; Connie Brooks, sister-in-law; by Richard Avedon
Allen Ginsberg's family: Hannah (Honey) Litzby, aunt: Leo Litzby, uncle; Abe Ginsberg, uncle; Ann Ginsberg, aunt; Louis Ginsber, father; Eugeno Brooks, brother; Allen Ginsberg, poet; Anne Brooks, niece; Peter Brooks, nephew; Connie Brooks, sister-in-law; by Richard Avedon
Jack, 2006 by Rod McNicol
Jack, 2006 by Rod McNicol
New York Life #5, Lower West Side, New York City, September 9, 1949 by Richard Avedon
New York Life #5, Lower West Side, New York City, September 9, 1949 by Richard Avedon
John Tjakamarra
John Tjakamarra, 1974 (printed 2007) Jon Rhodes. © Jon Rhodes
6 images
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Related information

Dovima with elephants, evening dress by Dior, Cirque d'Hiver, Paris, August 1955 by Richard Avedon
Dovima with elephants, evening dress by Dior, Cirque d'Hiver, Paris, August 1955 by Richard Avedon
Dovima with elephants, evening dress by Dior, Cirque d'Hiver, Paris, August 1955 by Richard Avedon
Dovima with elephants, evening dress by Dior, Cirque d'Hiver, Paris, August 1955 by Richard Avedon

Richard Avedon People

Previous exhibition, 2013

American photographer Richard Avedon produced portrait photographs that defined the twentieth century. Developed in partnership with the Richard Avedon Foundation in New York, the first Australian exhibition of Avedon’s bold portraits reveals the glamour and drama of his iconic artistic work.
James Baldwin, writer, Harlem, New York 1945 by Richard Avedon
James Baldwin, writer, Harlem, New York 1945 by Richard Avedon
James Baldwin, writer, Harlem, New York 1945 by Richard Avedon
James Baldwin, writer, Harlem, New York 1945 by Richard Avedon

The Avedon effect

Magazine article by Dr Christopher Chapman, 2013

Dr Christopher Chapman explores how we can understand Richard Avedon's photographs.  
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The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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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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