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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.

History

How the National Portrait Gallery and its unique collection came to be

More information on History

Selected images

24 images
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Visitors looking at Harold Blair, 1948 by Ernest Buckmaster. Purchased 2010 © Estate of Ernest Buckmaster
Visitors looking at Harold Blair, 1948 by Ernest Buckmaster. Purchased 2010 © Estate of Ernest Buckmaster
Andrew Sayers
Mark Mohell Andrew Sayers 2012 © Mark Mohell
Barry Humphries
Clifton Pugh AO Barry Humphries 1958 © Shane Pugh
The Movie Star (David Gulpilil)
Tracey Moffatt The Movie Star (David Gulpilil) 1985 © Tracey Moffatt Courtesy of the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney.
Nick Cave
Howard Arkley Nick Cave 1999 © Estate of Howard Arkley. Licensed by Kalli Rolfe Contemporary Art.
Portrait of Captain James Cook RN
John Webber Portrait of Captain James Cook RN 1782
Trucaninny [Trukanini], wife of Woureddy [Wurati]
Benjamin Law Trucaninny [Trukanini], wife of Woureddy [Wurati] 1836
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
Guido Maestri Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu 2009 © Guido Maestri
Charles Teo
Adam Chang (Hong Jun Zhang) Charles Teo 2012 © Adam Chang (Hong Jun Zhang)
Marcia Langton
Brook Andrew Marcia Langton 2009 © Brook Andrew
Deborah Mailman
Evert Ploeg Deborah Mailman 1999 © Evert Ploeg/Copyright Agency, 2024
Portrait of HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark
Jiawei Shen Portrait of HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark 2005 © National Portrait Gallery of Australia
Dr John Yu
Ah Xian Dr John Yu 2004 © Ah Xian
Simone Young
Bill Henson AO Simone Young 2002 © Bill Henson
Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch
Australian Tapestry Workshop Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch 2000 © Australian Tapestry Workshop
L. Gordon Darling AC CMG
Jiawei Shen L. Gordon Darling AC CMG 2006 © Jiawei Shen
Self portrait with gladioli
George Lambert Self portrait with gladioli 1922
Mr John Eason
W. B. Gould Mr John Eason 1838
Self portrait
John Brack Self portrait c. 1948 © Helen Brack
Self portrait
Tracey Moffatt Self portrait 1999/2005 © Tracey Moffatt Courtesy of the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney.
Style Over Substance
The Huxleys Style Over Substance 2020 © The Huxleys
Mirka by Mirka
Mirka Mora Mirka by Mirka 2000 © Mirka Mora/Copyright Agency, 2024
David Gulpilil's Hands
Ross Honeysett David Gulpilil's Hands 2004 © Ross Honeysett
Ellie Cole
Peter Brew-Bevan Ellie Cole 2016 (printed 2021) © Peter Brew-Bevan
24 images
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Related information

Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Captain Charles Ulm
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Captain Charles Ulm
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Captain Charles Ulm
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Captain Charles Ulm

Uncommon Australians

Towards an Australian Portrait Gallery

Touring exhibition, 1992

In 1988 philanthropists Gordon and Marilyn Darling decided to make an Australian portrait gallery a reality, overseeing the development of the 1992 touring exhibition Uncommon Australians.
The National Portrait Gallery, July 2025
The National Portrait Gallery, July 2025
The National Portrait Gallery, July 2025
The National Portrait Gallery, July 2025

Architecture

About us

Natural light and human proportions – the design by Johnson Pilton Walker
Marcia Langton
Marcia Langton
Marcia Langton
Marcia Langton

Portrait Quest!

Civics and Citizenship (upper primary)

2:00pm, Thu 19 Nov

Join us for an interactive, curriculum-aligned program that explores the lives and contributions of significant Australians.
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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.

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.

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